NEW DELHI, Aug 25 � The Power Ministers of the North Eastern States have called for roll back of the hike in prices of natural gas in the region to stabilise the pricing of the power.
Faced with the prospect of witnessing all its gas power plants turning into economically unviable venture, the delegation of the Power Ministers under the aegis of the North Eastern Regional Power Committee met Union Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas, Murli Deorah and Union Power Minister, Sushil Kumar Shinde to discuss host of issues connected with the dismal power scenario in the region.
On the table were issues like the construction of mega dams in upper reaches of Brahmaputra without conducting Environment Impact Studies in downstream areas, China�s design to divert the Tsangpo River.
The Power Ministers underlined the need to set up an authority to study the entire gamut of issues in totality, raising concern of the North Eastern States with China with the Ministry of External Affairs and above all ensure power supply to the NER mainly Assam until the two power plants including the Bongaigaon Thermal Power Plant and Palatana projects are commissioned.
Talking to this newspaper, State Power Minister, Pradyut Bordoloi said the main issue in their meeting with Deorah was roll back of the prices of natural gas that has been hiked by 120 per cent. The region derives 48 per cent of its power needs from gas based power plants, while in case of Assam, it is 60 per cent, he said.
�We impressed on the Union Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister the urgent need to review the prices of gas,� Bordoloi said.
The region�s Power Minister had over two-hour-long meeting with the Union Power Minister, when they expressed concern over China�s reported moves to divert Brahmaputra River in its upper reaches.
The issue of reckless construction of dams in upper reaches should be stopped and informed rational decisions should be taken after carrying out comprehensive environment impact studies on the ramifications of hydel power projects on down stream areas, said Bordoloi.
The Ministers also called for modernisation of electrical system as the Region as a whole has been experiencing staggering aggregate loss.
Bordoloi said that the region as a whole has been facing acute power scarcity, as demands particularly in Assam have gone up by 300 per cent over the last four year period.
The State Power Ministers had met early this month in Shillong and decided to raise the problem of huge power deficit in the region. The Group is also trying to meet the Prime Minister.
