SHILLONG, OCT: Power Minister AT Mondal announced that the Meghalaya government is actively collaborating with the Ministry of Power to implement pumped storage projects (PSPs) in the state.
“We are very much interested in PSPs. As you are aware, we have entered into an agreement with NTPC to assess the feasibility of PSPs, and accordingly, NTPC has identified three potential power projects. We are working on them,” Mondal stated while addressing reporters.
He emphasized that PSPs operate differently from run-of-the-river projects, where the state typically benefits from 12% free power and 1% for local area development. “In the case of PSPs, this benefit is not available. So we have to consider how Meghalaya will gain from these projects if power is produced here. Equity participation is still in a very early stage when it comes to PSPs,” Mondal said.
The minister elaborated on the collaborative effort with the central government: “We are working vigorously with the Ministry of Power and other states. This technology is new for us, and for many states, it is also unfamiliar. Once we reach certain stages in the process, we will definitely provide updates.”
Mondal highlighted the state’s interest in broader hydropower development, noting, “We want participation either from state utilities, central utilities, or private parties in the development of hydel power projects, aside from PSPs.”
He expressed urgency in boosting power generation to meet rising demand, which is growing by about 11-12% annually. “We are really eager to see investment and power generation within the state so that Meghalaya benefits. Our generation capacity must increase to keep pace with demand, and we should aim to be self-sufficient, not always dependent on central or private utilities. We are working on securing investments in run-of-the-river projects and other initiatives.”
On the current power situation, Mondal reassured that Meghalaya is not facing a power deficit. “We have not resorted to load shedding this year. The disruptions that people face are due to natural causes and outdated equipment, like old wires. We are addressing these issues by conducting repair and rehabilitation work, usually on Saturday mornings when schools, colleges, and most government offices are closed,” he said.
Mondal further explained that efforts are underway to improve the transmission system: “There are long distribution lines connected to a single substation, and many distribution transformers are linked to that line. We are trying to mitigate these problems.”