State-run North Eastern Electric Power Corporation (NEEPCO) provided 56.6 per cent of the total energy in 2012-13 to the entire North eastern region, said Jyotiraditya M Scindia, the Minister of State for Power while chairing the Consultative Committee of Members of Parliament for the Ministry of Power in New Delhi recently.    

The Minister added that NEEPCO is in the process of adding 922 mw during the 12th Plan Period, which shall enhance the installed capacity from 1130 to 2052 mw. For the speedy execution of projects, NEEPCO is using Modern Project Management software “Primavara” for monitoring.    

Due to inability of CPSUs to pay upfront premium to the states, projects are not allotted to CPSUs. However, recent permission by the Government of India to pay upfront premium to states made it easier for procuring projects by NEEPCO.    

NEEPCO, which got the `Miniratna` status in April this year, has an installed capacity of 1,130 mw, which is 47 percent of the total installed capacity of the north eastern region. Nineteen power projects, including twelve 3,918 mw capacity hydel power projects and four thermal power projects with installed capacity of 5,595 mw, are now in various stages of commissioning and planning in the north eastern region by different organisations, including NEEPCO.    

The power plants would be set up in Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Meghalaya, Sikkim, Mizoram and Tripura. Three power projects totalling 1,344 mw would also be commissioned by private organisations in Arunachal Pradesh. The hydro-power potential of the north eastern region is estimated at about 58,971 mw, but only less than two percent (1,200 mw) has so far been harnessed till early this year. NEEPCO is also planning to generate at least 1,500 mw power from non-conventional sources of energy such as solar and wind in the next five years.    

The meeting deliberated on the steps taken to improve the power scenario in the north east. With the restructuring of the State Electricity Boards (SEBs) post Electricity Act 2003, and strengthening of distribution network by the respective State Governments in the north east region, it is expected that the per capita consumption of electricity in the region would increase. Recently NEEPCO has procured Siang Upper HEP, Stage-II (3750 mw) in Arunachal Pradesh and two more projects viz, Siang Upper HEP Stage-I (6000 mw) and Kurung HEP (330 mw) are in the pipeline.