Mizoram Becomes Self-sufficient In Power: PM To Dedicate Tuirial Hydropower Project To Nation
The Tuirial HEPP has been constructed as a Central Sector Project and implemented by North Eastern Electric Power Corporation (NEEPCO), under the administrative control of the Ministry of Power
Photo Credit : Shutterstock,
The state of Mizoram would finally become self-sufficient in electric power with the inauguration of the biggest project in the state on 16 December 2017. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will formally dedicate 60 MW Tuirial Hydro Electric Power Project (HEPP), along with the formal launch of ‘MyDoNER App’ and will distribute cheques to the Start-up Entrepreneurs Aizawl tomorrow.
The Tuirial HEPP has been constructed as a Central Sector Project and implemented by North Eastern Electric Power Corporation (NEEPCO), under the administrative control of the Ministry of Power.
The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) cleared the Project for implementation in July 1998 with commissioning scheduled in July 2006.
The ministry statement said, “After completion of about 30 per cent of the project activities, the works were totally suspended w.e.f. June 2004 due to local agitation. With sustained efforts by NEEPCO and with the active support of Ministry of Power and Ministry of DoNER, Government of India and Government of Mizoram, the stalled works of the project were resumed in January 2011.”
Due to the remote location of the project, the gestation period for the project prolonged apart from the challenge inadequate communication infrastructure, a massive failure of the Power House slopes due to poor soil condition and lack of availability of skilled manpower.
The Project has been built at a cost of Rs 1302 crore.
The State's current demand for electricity is only 87 MW, and this is being met by State's mini power projects and availability of its share of power from central sector projects. The first unit was commissioned on 25 August 2017, and the second 28 November 2017.
“With the additional 60 MW of electricity from the project, the State of Mizoram will now be the third power-surplus State in North East India after Sikkim and Tripura. Apart from attaining self-sufficiency in electric power, the project will fetch other spin-off benefits to the State of Mizoram like employment generation, navigation, water supply, pisciculture and wildlife conservation, tourism etc,” according to the statement.