SHILLONG, March 26 � Meghalaya Power Minister Clement Marak has disclosed that the State Government has planned to generate over 700 MW of power in the next ten years to meet the energy requirements of the State.
�The total availability of power in the State by 2023-24 is projected at 723 MW,� Marak told the Assembly recently.
�This was projected in view of the growth of demand for power which is at eight per cent during the last 10 years,� he said while replying to a motion moved by National Peoples� Party legislator James K Sangma on the poor functioning of the Power department.
The State�s own generation will be at 462 MW from the Leshka Stage II power project and 260.93 MW will be availed as Central share, he said.
According to Power Minister, in 2014-15, the availability of power in the State is only 253 MW of which 159 MW is Central share while State�s own generation is only 94 MW.
However, the State is expecting to get 306 MW of power from four power projects during the current year 2015-16, out of which 95 MW is the State�s own generation and 210.93 MW as Central share, he said.
The four power projects include Palatana GPP Unit II, Bongaigaon TPP, AGTPP combine cycle and Lakroh SHP.
Projecting an increase of power supply to the State, the Minister said 356 MW is projected to be available in 2016-17 and this would increase considerably every year.
By 2020-2021, power availability is projected at 489 MW and 611 MW from 2021 to 2023, he said. � PTI
