N-E to get water resources authority

The government is planning to set up a water resources authority in the North Eastern states shortly, to harness the water potential of the seven states.

Hydel-power generation forms a major component of water potential, and a critical function of the authority will be to tap this by helping these states to set up hydro-power generation plants.

"For the first five years, the central government will fund the hydroelectric projects and after the prescribed time-period the projects will become self-sustainable. A sum of Rs 1,500 crore has been earmarked as per-year funding," a government official said.

However, each state's share in the benefits still needs to be smoothened out. It has been mooted that the states can get 12-per cent share as free power.

"The water resources ministry is of the opinion that their share of free power can be raised up to 14 per cent. There is also a second opinion that instead of providing free power to the states they should be involved as equity partners in the hydel projects," the official added.

The authority will be constituted of a five-member team, to be drawn from areas of hydroelectric power generation, water resources, water transport and environment.

It will be the co-coordinating agency and will help in disbursing Rs 1,500 crore per year to help in providing seed capital for setting up the projects. Owing to the decline in hydro development and the prevailing peak power deficits, coal-fired thermal power units are often used for meeting peak loads.