Meghalaya Govt formulating New Power Policy for developing Power Sector

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaFebruary 22, 2024

Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma informed the Government is in the process of formulating a New Power Policy that will provide the framework for developing the power sector.

This was informed by Sangma while placing the Meghalaya State Budget on February 21.

The Chief Minister said the Generation capacity of the third stage of Umiam-Umtru Hydroelectric Station is being augmented from 60 to 99 megawatts with support from Japan International Cooperation Agency while the 22.5 megawatts Ganol Hydroelectric Project has been fully operationalized this year. He also said that the Umiam Dam is being strengthened under the Dam Rehabilitation and Improvement Project.

Sangma said Meghalaya has more than 4,750 kilometres of rivers with a potential to generate 3,000 megawatts of power, whereas the current installed capacity is only 367 megawatts. He also said that plans are being drawn to double this capacity by 2030 through government funding and private sector participation.

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Sangma said another great opportunity in the power generation sector is the potential to create 3,000 megawatts of Pumped Storage Hydropower Projects by 2030 but this will be achieved in coordination with Central PSUs, State PSUs and joint ventures with the private sector. He however said that to balance the State’s heavy dependence on hydroelectric power, the government plans to set up thermal and solar power plants. All these generation initiatives will make Meghalaya a power surplus State by 2032, he added.