NEEPCO has been unable to pick up pace on the 60 MW Tuirial hydroelectric power project as the project continues to face contractor hurdles.

According to NEEPCO officials, inadequate mobilization of resources by the contractor has been hampering the pace of works at the project site. Patel Engineering is the civil contractor for the project. The developer has taken up the matter with the contractor to mobilize adequate resources at the project site at several occasions. However, not much progress has been made.

Tuirial HEP is also facing funding issues. Delay in release of funds from ministry of Development of North Eastern Region DoNER has been affecting the project development. The DoNER ministry is to provide a grant of Rs.300 Crore, Rs. 100 Crore in each in three successive years starting from 2010-11. However, the Ministry could dispense only Rs. 36 crore earlier this year to the developer. The power ministry has asked the DoNER ministry to release adequate funds to the project for timely execution of the project.

Tuirial project was accorded investment approval in July 1998 at an estimated cost of Rs.368.72 crore. The work on the project was suspended in June 2004 due to local agitation. Works were resumed in January 2011.

Revised estimates indicated cost escalation of the project by 150 per cent due to rise in required quantity and cost of various inputs. The total completion cost of the project is now estimated to be Rs. 913.63 crore.

About 30 per cent of the project works and 95 per cent of the design and engineering works were completed prior to stoppage of project activities.

Investment approval for the remaining works was accorded by CEA in January 2011.

Tuirial HEP is located in Aizwal district of Mizoram. The project envisages construction of a 75-m high zone earth fill dam on River Tuirial. The current commissioning schedule for the project is in 2017. However, the contractual and funding issues have raised uncertainties over the timelines.


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