Meghalaya is set to have a new small hydropower project next month. This marks the first success for the northeastern hilly state's endeavour of tapping its sizeable 400 mw of hydropower potential through small hydro-power projects.
Speaking to Projectmonitor, L.S. Tariang, Chief Engineer (Hydro, Planning & Small Hydro), Meghalaya State Electricity Board, said that the state was confident of commissioning the 1.5-mw Sonapani mini hydel project by March. Construction work is also underway on the Lakroh project of identical capacity, which is scheduled to begin operations by March 2010, he noted.
Elaborating on the state's hydropower potential, Tariang said that 44 small projects (of capacity less than 25 mw) have been identified with a total capacity of 398.1 mw. Out of these, construction work has begun on the aforementioned Sonapani and Lakroh projects.
MeSEB does have some small hydropower projects in operations, but these were commissioned way back between 1950 and 1970. Some of these schemes are not in operation while others are working at sub-optimal efficiency, it is learnt. The board is revamping some schemes like the 18-mw Umiam Umtru (Stage-II) that was commissioned in 1970.
The North Eastern Council, which is the principal funding agency for infrastructure projects in the northeastern region, has identified three more micro and mini hydropower projects aggregating 0.8 mw to be commissioned within the 11th Plan period. Tariang said that out of these three, the 0.5-mw Tyrsaw project in East Khasi Hills was the largest. The project is awaiting forest clearance, he noted. The other two projects identified by NEC are the 0.1-mw Risaw project in East Khasi Hills district and the 0.2-mw Umran project in Ri Bhoi district.
Though small hydropower projects fall under the "renewable energy" category, it is MeSEB and not Meghalaya Renewable Energy Development Agency (the state nodal agency for green energy projects) that looks after their implementation. MNREDA focuses on other areas of renewable energy like biomass and wind.
Besides small hydropower, Meghalaya is also looking at adding nearly 190 mw capacity through medium and large hydropower projects, out of which the 126-mw Myndtu Leshka in Jaintia Hills district is the largest. The northeastern state is also looking at private participation in setting up large projects aggregating 2,400 mw. This endeavour would fructify in the 12th Plan period (2012-17) though.
Meghalaya's current hydropower capacity in operation (all state government-owned) is 185 mw, which represents less than 8 per cent of the total potential. The state is the second-largest consumer of electricity in north-east India, after Assam.
(Log onto to www.projectsmonitor.com/detailnews.asp?newsid=17734 for earlier story 'Meghalaya reboots hydro plans')