Powering the northeast region

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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.