Aizawl: The Mizoram government will soon commission two micro hydroelectric power projects, which will generate 0.20 MW power, power and electricity minister R Lalzirliana told the state legislature on Friday.
Construction of a 0.10-MW micro hydroelectric power project at Tuiriza near Saitual village in Aizawl district and another 0.10-MW Tuiching micro hydroelectric power plant near Mimbung village in Champhai district bordering Myanmar has been completed and are ready for commissioning, the minister said while replying to unstarred question from opposition Zoram People’s Movement’s member C. Lalsawivunga.
Lalzirliana said that the total installed capacity of state for hydroelectric power stood at 29.35 MW and that of solar power was 0.35 MW as in April this year.
He said that a 5MW Tlawva hydro electric power project near Khawbung village and Kawlbem hydro electric power project, both in Champhai district are yet to be completed.
According to the minister, power and electricity department has submitted a proposal to the state government to cancel the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed with North Eastern Electric Power Corporation Limited (NEEPCO) for construction of a 210 MW hydro electric power project at Tuivai near Ngopa village in Champhai district owing to failure on the part of the corporation to submit report to the state government as demanded.
There are about 14 micro hydro electric power dams in Mizoram.
During the period 2017-2018, the state’s net generation of Hydro electric power was 57.11 Million Unit (MU) and that of net import was 611.29 MU.
The estimated power potential of the state during the same period was 4,000 MW, allocated share of power was 132.96 MW and real time power availability was estimated at 46.57 MW.
The total demand of power during peak hour was 105 MW during 2017-2018 against 118 MW in 2016-2017.
According to Statistical Handbook released recently, the state power import expenditure has rose from Rs 23,087.3 crore in 2016-2017 to Rs 23,827.20 crore in 2017-2018.
The per capita consumption of power during the same period was estimated at 360.72 Kilowatt hour (Kwh) against 322.22 Kwh in 2016-2017.
Mizoram has launched ‘Saubhagya’ under Pradhan Mantri Sahaj Bijli Har Ghar Yojana scheme on January 17 last year to provide electricity to all willing households.
Of the 13,854 families, which have no access to power, more than 4000 households have been already provided electricity, power and electricity department officials said.
According to 2011 general census, there were 30 unelectrified census towns in Mizoram, which has been now reduced to 11.
