Conrad suggests tapping all power sources

SHILLONG, JULY 4: Former Meghalaya finance & power minister and NPP leader Conrad Sangma on Friday submitted list of suggestions to the centre on the need to tap the various resources to overcome the deficit power scenario in Meghalaya.

In the letter submitted to the union minister of state with Independent charge for Power, Coal and New & Renewable Energy Piyush Goyal , Sangma said that as Meghalaya is blessed with small streams and rivers along with abundant harvesting the rain water by putting small dams and mini to micro plants will not only help in power generation but also conserve rain water.

Sangma suggested that the power generated from these sources could be used locally without going through the process of transmitting to far-off  locations which in turn will reduce the cost of putting up transmission lines and more importantly reduce transmission and distribution losses.

Stressing on the need to adopt a hybrid system, Sangma said, “Since the rivers are not perennial in nature, the state should have a hybrid system of power generation and accordingly balance the generation of power. The State has huge coal deposits also which can feed thermal plants during the dry seasons. There are seasons when there are ample sunshine and strong winds also.”

Sangma suggested that all sources of energy should be studied and mapped so that an efficient hybrid system of power generation can be established.  He also emphasized on the need to have the short and medium term renewable forms of energy tapped.

Stating that bigger power projects, be it hydro or thermal will take time to develop, Sangma was of the opinion that solar, wind or biogas power plants could be set up faster compared to other forms.

Sangma also proposed that for a start all government offices (Secretariat, Department Offices, DC officers etc), educational institutes could have solar panels to harness the power of the sun, as these function mainly during the day time.

Sangma said,“These offices and institutions could be put on a net metering system, where power could be put back into the grid, when they are not using it or there is excess production. This will not only add much needed power to the grid, as offices and institutes are mostly closed on weekends and institutes have summer or winter break, but will also give them financial benefit as they will be paid back for the power they put into the grid.”

Sangma is also of the opinion that such similar model could be adopted for any organization or individual who wishes to invest in such a system and at the same time wind mapping in different parts of the state could be undertaken which would allow us to know the potential that the state has in wind energy.

On the issue relating to manpower resources in divisions and districts, Sangma highlighted that most of the districts and offices of the MECL do not have sufficient qualified manpower, which is another reason for the inefficient functioning of the different offices.

Sangma pointed out that in some districts in Garo hills they do not have sufficient manpower because of which the service to the people is not provided properly and maintenance of the lines also suffers like South Garo hills, which suffer the most because of the acute manpower shortage.

Sangma also informed that the Meghalaya Electricity Corporation Limited (MECL) which was corporatized and the different divisions segregated as per the guidelines of union government still have not been bifurcated completely till date.

Underlining the need to strengthen the transmission lines, Sangma recommended that as most of the load centers are connected through long drawn 33 KV lines, which are leading to heavy losses and not efficiently transmitting power, could be replaced with high tension lines, the overall efficiency of the system would improve.- By Our Reporter