SHILLONG, MAR 20: Meghalaya government will soon come up with the ‘Meghalaya Renewable Energy Policy’ to tackle of power deficit in the state said chief minister Mukul Sangma during the ongoing budget session of the assembly on Wednesday.
Replying to a cut motion moved by NPP legislator James Sangma, the chief minister said, “It is time that we redesign our approach. There is need on urgent basis to have a policy on renewable energy which government is still working out and would soon complete the draft policy.”
The chief minister also informed the house that the government will encourage investment by interested investors in solar energy, bio-mass gasification and an attractive and balance policy is needed to provide necessary incentives to investors.
According to the chief minister with a policy in place, the government expects several solar plants to come up in the state. He said, “This will not only supplement the existing power production but will also generate employment opportunity to the people of the state.
The chief minister further informed that the government would soon take steps to identify areas in the state which has immense potentials in biomass for setting up off-grid plants to supplement the shortage of power supply in the state.
The chief minister said the government last year came out with one programme of hybrid plant for generation of water from the atmosphere from 500 to 1000 pure drinking water in which the same water is utilize for generating power which can light up to 30-40 households. He said the new power technology will be a blessing to those villages in the state where disruption of power is quite frequent.” – By Our Reporter
Wind Energy will be a better option for Meghalaya as the southern slopes of the state are continuously buffeted by strong winds originating in the Bay of Bengal. Wind turbines along with power generating stations can be set up all along the southern slopes right from East Jaintia Hills up to East Garo Hills.