‘No
plan to set up hydropower project in Barak Valley’
From Our
Correspondent Assam Tribune
KARIMGANJ, Nov 29 – Even though Assam boasts of being one
of the few States in the country having enormous hydro-power
potential with its vast river water resources, the
assessment studies of the government speaks otherwise so far
as setting up of hydropower plants on
Barak river and its tributaries is concerned.
As per re-assessment studies of hydro-power potential
carried out by the Central Electricity Authority (CEA), the
hydro electric potential of
Barak river and neighbouring rivers of Manipur,
Mizoram, Nagaland and Meghalaya is only 3,908 MW at 60 per
cent load factor.
The CEA has identified 60 hydro-electric schemes with a
total aggregate installed capacity of 6,679 MW. But none of
these identified schemes is located in
Assam. This revelation was made by the Union Power
Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde in a reply to a letter of Lalit
Kumar Suklabaidya, MP Karimganj.
As regards Suklabaidya’s request whether the government has
identified any site or scheme to set up hydro-power based
plant in Barak Valley, the Power Minister replied in the
negative. The Union Minister in his reply said, under 50,000
MW hydro-electric initiative, the feasibility reports of 20
schemes on
Barak river and neighbouring rivers have been
prepared. But none of these identified schemes is located on
Barak Valley. Out of these 20 identified schemes, there are
located in Manipur, 11 in Meghalaya 3 in Mizoram and 3 in
Nagaland.
Out of these six schemes in the State of Meghalaya have been
identified as low tariff hydro-electric schemes for carrying
out detailed survey and investigation the Union Power
Minister’s reply clearly shows that the government is doing
very little to exploit the hydro-power potential of Assam
especially Barak Valley districts which have no dearth in
natural resources of water bodies. It has been a long
standing policy of the Central Government to implement
projects in power and road communication sectors on priority
basis for speedily infrastructural development of the
North Eastern region.
After 50 years of promises and assurances, the 15,000 MW
capacity Tipaimukh project on the confluence of Barak and
Tuivah river in Manipur’s Churachandpur district has seen
the light of the day when its foundation stone was laid by
the Union Minister SM Deb in November last. It is true that
this multipurpose Rs 6,800 crore project, when implemented
would bring enough relief to the power-starved people of
Barak Valley.
Water supply schemes: Twenty one new water
supply schemes will come up for Barkhola LAC. All these
schemes have been sanctioned by the State Government.
Besides another four new water supply schemes will be set up
under Rejuvenation Scheme, disclosed Dr Rumi Nath MLA,
Barkhola.
Former Congress MLA of this constituency and minister
Misbahul Islam Laskar was unable to change the fate of
Barkhola, alleged Dr Nath. She informed that Barkhola LAC is
the most backward constituency in Cachar. There are 22 tea
estates but 80 per cent tea estates are now closed. The
major problem faced by the people of Barkhola is corruption.
The State and Central Government serve huge amount of funds
for the development of socio-economic conditions of the
backward people of Barkhola. But it was unfortunate that
former Congress MLA alongwith staff of DRDA and other
department deprived the poor people, alleged. Dr Rumi Nath,
MLA.
Expressing great concern over the ongoing corruption by a
section of government employees, she said that former
Congress MLA is still giving shelter to the corrupt
employees. As a result, as an MLA she will have to face
hurdles in implementing development schemes.
Dr Nath expressed her gratitude to Tarun Gogoi, Chief
Minister, who is very keen to develop the backward Barkhola
LAC. A tourist lodge will be constructed at Dhalchena and
for the project Assam Government has sanctioned Rs 10 lakh.
As a result of her continuous pressure, three RCC bridges
would be constructed at Karatigram on Madhura, at Sunapur on
Harang and at Annapurnaghat on river Barak. Karatigram and
Sunapur bridges have already been sanctioned. During her one
and half year tenure she was able to provide seven
ambulances in Barkhola. State Government has also decided to
upgrade the four bed Barkhola PHC to 30 bed one.
Recently, she organised 25 health camps in the remotest
corners of Barkhola where free medicines also distributed
among the villagers.
BJP MLA of Barkhola LAC Dr Rumi Nath expressed confident
that in the ensuing Panchayat elections BJP would be able to
secure more seats right from village level ward member to
Zila Parishad member.
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