Guwahati: Union Minister of Power and New & Renewable Energy, Raj Kumar Singh on Friday said that Arunachal Pradesh, with its huge hydropower potential, will become the main exporter of power in the country.
He also said the power sector will help increase the state’s GGP by two-three times in the days to come.
The minister said this while reviewing the Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme (RDSS) for the north-eastern states with the power ministers of the region here.
Chairing the review meeting, Singh said the Ministry of Power aimed to bring transformation in the power system. He said a review meeting was taken to discuss the new schemes under RDSS to upgrade and strengthen the power system and ensure a viable power supply to the people.
“We seek to provide power supply above 21 hours in rural areas and 23 hours in urban areas in the coming decade. We have connected the whole country to one grid, strengthened the North East grid by upgrading 225 power stations and substations,” he said.
He further said the progress made in the north-eastern states is satisfactory and all the states have managed to revamp the power system. “Power system in the region has improved and losses have also reduced,” he added.
Interacting with the media, he said the ministry aimed to provide 24X7 power supply to the people in the days to come and do away with the use of generators. He also said he was happy with the deliberations of the day and that there is improvement in every state.
Foreseeing Arunachal Pradesh as the hydropower hub of the country, Singh said the 500 MW Lower Subansiri Project has been progressing well and is expected to be completed by August 2022. All the hurdles in connection with the 3000 MW Dibang Multipurpose Project have also been resolved, he said.
Arunachal Pradesh deputy chief minister, Chowna Mein who is also the minister-in-charge of power and non-conventional energy resources said the Arunachal has successfully implemented the Centre’s rural electrification schemes such as Saubhagya and Deendayal Upadhyay Grameen Ujwala Yojana.
He said all the projects under these schemes will be completed within 2021 and closed by February 2022.
Mein said thin populations in scattered habitations in remote villages, difficult mountainous terrain and dense forests frequented by heavy rains, landslides, falling trees and snowfall in the winter season coupled with the frequent disruption of long distribution lines are the challenges faced by the state.
These contribute to high power loss in the state, he added.
Mein, however, said that despite all these challenges, Arunachal Pradesh is committed to marching with the rest of the country for the implementation of RDSS. He said the Distribution Reforms Committee and District Electricity Committee had been constituted and Rural Electrification Corporation Power Development & Consultancy Limited (RECPDCL) was appointed as consultant for the preparation of the action plan and detailed project report.
He also said the department of power installed 24,874 prepaid energy meters on the consumers’ premises in Itanagar and Naharlagun of the Capital Complex under state plan head, adding that the revenue collection of these two towns through prepaid energy meters is very encouraging.
The Union Minister also discussed renewable energy, rooftop solar energy and KUSUM schemes in the meeting.
