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RK Singh and Tovihoto Ayemi in New Delhi.[/caption]
Dimapur, June 16 (EMN): Advisor for Power Tovihoto Ayemi along with senior officers from the department of Power presented the technical requirements of the state to Union Minister of State for Power and New Renewable Energy, RK Singh in New Delhi on June 15.
According to the press release received here from the public relation officer of Nagaland house New Delhi, the Union minister had given assurance that top priority will be given for overall power improvement in the state. Assuring this Singh also told the officers that all the norms have to be followed while implementing various power projects in the state.
The advisor pointed out that the power sector in the state had been ignored for so many years and there is a need to revamp and modernize the sector and for that the state resources alone is insufficient to bring quick changes.
Ayemi informed the Union minister that the state had now identified various hydro potential locations but there are numerous challenges in development of hydro projects and one such reason is attributed to adequate funding pattern from the Government of India and thereby requiring gap funding support from NEC/DoNER.
The advisor also said to have submitted a letter from Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio requesting the Union minister to provide funding for few priority hydro projects in the state such as 42 Mega Watt Lower Tizu project, 24 Mega Watt Zungki project and 2.1 Mega Watt Dzuna experimental model project.
Saying that the hydro project cost need to be thoroughly examined through appropriate central agency, the Union minister gave assurance that necessary support will be extended.
Ayemi also stated to have mentioned about the conversion of the existing electro-mechanical meters to that of prepaid meters to mitigate huge Aggregate Technical & Commercial losses (AT&C) loss of the state. He requested the DoNER Ministry to speed up the proposed pre-paid project covering 19 statutory and census towns. Besides other technical projects, the advisor emphasised on the pre-paid metering project and assurance was given by Union minister to put it on fast track, the press release stated.
The Union minister said that although the AT&C loss in the state is now showing positive sign of improvement, the huge revenue loss has to be quickly controlled in important towns like Dimapur by engaging various stakeholders.
He also categorically mentioned that to quickly improve the power system, Nagaland should no longer function in isolation with outdated system. “It is high time that like other North Eastern States, the Power sector in the state of Nagaland should also be immediately corporatized so as to enable the State to avail various benefits from financial institutions,” the union minister said.
