Meghalaya govt to implement MREP to tackle power shortage

The Meghalaya government today said it is keen on implementing a hi-tech, environment-friendly approach to tackle power deficiency by implementing the Meghalaya Renewable Energy Policy (MREP).
"We are considering on tapping full potential of wind, solar and hydel power in the state," State Planning Board co-chairman John Kharshiing said after chairing a review meeting on power here.
He said the state government was keen on implementing hi-tech and environment-friendly approaches to counter power deficit in the state as a long term solution.
The Meghalaya Non-Conventional and Rural Energy Development Agency has already conducted a feasible study across the entire state to install windmills after a GIS mapping conducted earlier, projected the state as capable of generating over 40 MW of wind energy.

The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy has also sanctioned Rs 15.26 crore for installation of SPV power plant in the Assembly complex and the secretariat last year.
Some educational institutions and government agencies have already started using solar and wind energy and the government was encouraging this, Kharshiing said.
He also said the government was on the job to identify areas in the state having potential to produce electricity from biomass which were likely to be installed as off-grid plants.
At present the Meghalaya Energy Corporation Limited (MeECL) was buying power from North Eastern Electricity Power Corporation (NEEPCO), NTPC Limited and NHPC Limited besides others to meet its 700 MW-plus demand.