Northeast To Be Power Self-Sufficient By 2014

Shillong, Mar 30 : Power Grid Corp of India CMD S.K. Chaturvedi Monday said the northeastern states would produce 5,000 MW power and be self-sufficient by the end of 2014.

"By 2013-14, the northeastern states are expected to produce 5,000 MW of power. As of today, the power requirement in the region is more than 2,000 MW, but the region on its own can produced only 850 MW," Chaturvedi told IANS on the sidelines of the Indian Institute of Management-Shillong convocation here.

He said the 750-MW ONGC's gas-based power project at Palatana in Tripura and the 750 MW Bongaigaon Thermal Power Station in Assam, the 600 MW Kameng hydroelectric project, and the 2,000 MW Lower Subansiri project in Arunachal Pradesh will help meet the region's demand by 2014.

"Apart from these four mega power projects, there are other smaller power projects in the region which will altogether produce 5,000 MW power," Chaturvedi said.

Currently, the Power Grid is transmitting about 1,200 MW to the region to meet its requirement.

The northeastern region, known as the power house of India, has a hydropower potential of about 60,000 MW.