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: Rural electrification in the remote northeastern region of the country, including Sikkim, poses a great challenge. Some initial efforts have been made by promoting energy generation from new and renewable sources, but more needs to be done.
So far, 708 remote villages and hamlets have been electrified through renewable sources and projects in 1,167 remote villages and hamlets are under implementation in various northeastern states. The Rural Electrification Corporation has identified 2,710 remote villages and hamlets where grid connectivity is neither feasible nor cost-effective. The state governments have been requested to prepare proposals for electrification of these villages.
A special 10% budgetary allocation has been made by the Union government for the electrification of the northeastern region under various renewable energy programmes since 1997-98. Rs 48.3 crore was allocated in 2007-08 as budgetary support. Small hydropower projects are also being developed both in grid-connected as well as decentralised mode for which a special incentive package has been developed. So far, 126 small hydropower projects with an aggregate capacity of 185 mw have been set up in the region and 77 projects aggregating 93 mw are under implementation.
In 2007-08, seven new projects of 8 mw aggregate capacity were sanctioned in Arunachal Pradesh. One existing project in Manipur, Gelnel, of 300 kw capacity has been taken up for renovation and modernisation. A number of electricity generating water mills and pico hydro projects are being set up in villages of Nagaland, Arunachal Pradesh, Mizoram and Manipur. Assam has announced a policy for setting up small hydropower projects involving the private sector.
Solar photovoltaic (SPV)-based home-lighting systems have found their way to the northeast. The Union government sanctioned 23 SPV power plants in Meghalaya in 2002-03 for the electrification of 24 villages. Of the SPV power plants commissioned in 2004-06, one with a capacity of 26 kw caters to two villages: Nonghali and Nongtyrklang in Mawryngkneng block of East Khasi Hills district. The village council has set up a village committee to look after the functioning of the plants. A monthly charge of Rs30 per light point is being collected, of which the village committee retains Rs 15 and the remaining amount is deposited with the Meghalaya Renewable Energy Development Authority.
Some 80% of the villages in Tripura were to be covered through grid-based electrification. However, only 55% of the population has access to electricity. In 2003-04, the Union government sanctioned two projects for basic lighting facilities in 30 villages and 488 hamlets through SPV home-lighting systems and about 12,000 home-lighting systems have been already provided.
In 2007-08, 8,100 solar home-lighting systems, 320 street-lighting systems and 32,208 solar lanterns were allocated under the SPV demonstration programme to the northeastern region. Support has been given to install six solar water heating systems of cumulative capacity of 4,500 litre per day in Sikkim. The proposals to install 20 water heating systems in Mizoram and solar dryers of 500 kg per batch capacity for drying turmeric—one each in 20 villages in eight districts—are being considered by the Union government.
In Assam, 15 test projects in remote villages are under implementation to provide electricity through biomass gasifiers, coupled with 100% producer gas engines, cooking energy needs to improve cook stoves, cattle dung-based biogas plants and motive power through biofuel operated engines.
Three biomass gasifier systems with an aggregate capacity of 600 kwe were installed in Nagaland in 2007-08 to meet electricity needs. The National Biogas & Manure Management Programme is being implemented in northeastern India and 1,719 family biogas plants have been set up in 2007-08.
The wind power programme in the region is not viable due to low potential. Assessments for wind potential were carried out in 24 sites and 23 stations were installed in the region, of which three were closed down in Tripura and two in Assam after completing two years. All stations were found to be less windy except P Leikul in Assam.
However, in 2006-07 the Union government approved setting up 20 new stations with 50 m masts in all northeastern states, including Sikkim. Small wind energy systems, namely water pumping windmills, aero-generators and wind-solar hybrid systems are being implemented in Assam and Sikkim. Three windmills have been set up in Assam and 10 aero-generators have been set up in Sikkim.
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