PowerGrid Corporation of India Limited (PGCIL) has already started work

April 10, 2015

Union power minister Piyush Goel said for strengthening transmission and distribution network, power ministry has rolled out a Rs. 10,000 crore project for the eight Northeastern states.

Goel, who was in Guwahati to attend the power minister’s conference, said stalled projects on the Teesta in Sikkim are expected to be complete by 2015. The 160 MW Teesta Low Dam Project (TLOD) IV, scheduled to be completed by September 2009 is delayed and is facing a cost over run.

The power minister said the government is also working on an amicable resolution for NHPC’s 2000 MW Lower Subansiri hydro power project along the Assam-Arunachal Pradesh border. Work on this project has been stalled since 2011 following massive protests from the antidam groups.

Goel said Rs. 10,000 crore project for eight Northeastern states will boost the power transmission and distribution network.

PowerGrid Corporation of India Limited (PGCIL) has already started work on it. “The 6000 MW Biswanath Chariali-Agra transmission line will be ready in another three to three and half months time,” he said.

Intra-State Transmission and Distribution systems in the North-Eastern States have remained very weak. The Central Electricity Authority (CEA) developed a comprehensive scheme for the North East Region (NER) in consultation with PGCIL and State Governments concerned.