Centre to invest Rs 10,000 cr in N-E power sector: Goyal

Guwahati: The Centre will invest Rs 10,000 crore in the power sector of the eight north eastern states, including Sikkim, Union Power, Coal and NRE Minister Piyush Goyal said in Guwahati today. “The Centre has undertaken major initiatives in the North East for speedy implementation of power projects and I urge all the eight NE state governments to extend their support in this endeavour,” Goyal said at the inaugural session of the Conference of Power, Renewable Energy and Mines in Guwahati.[caption id=“attachment_1591773” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  Union Power Minister Piyush Goyal. [/caption] The Centre has already approved a scheme for strengthening the transmission and distribution system in Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim with an outlay of Rs 4,754 crore. The government has also approved another North Eastern Region Power System Improvement Project for the other six states in the region with an outlay of Rs 5,111 crore, including budgetary support of Rs 2,600 crore, the minister said. There was also plan to restart the Teesta Hydro Electric Project in Sikkim with an investment of Rs 13,000 crore and this would be huge source of power for the entire North East, he said. In Assam, the Centre would work with the government and the people to resolve all issues related to the Lower Subansiri Hydroelectric Project and was striving to resolve it in the best interest of all concerned, Goyal said. He also highlighted various projects being implemented in the region, including the 6,000 MW Bishwanath Chariali-Agra transmission lines to be completed in three and a half months, Rs 1,000 crore Bongaigaon-Balipara transmission and Rs 500 crore Silchar-Imphal transmission lines. “We want to expand opportunities in the region to ensure power production is increased so that there is power for irrigation, power for every household, working opportunities, industrialisation and a bright future of the state,” he said. The minister further pointed out that the significance of holding the meeting for the first time outside Delhi and in the North East was immense. “We want to send a message that our bond with the region is deep and we share a feeling of brotherhood and unity with the region,” Goyal said. PTI