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Meghalaya seeks Centre’s support under NERPSIP for ₹2,270-crore transmission plan

July 8, 2025

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Shillong, July 8: Meghalaya Power Minister A.T. Mondal has urged the Union Ministry of Power to extend financial support to the state’s transmission system plan under the North Eastern Region Power System Improvement Project (NERPSIP), citing acute financial constraints and an urgent need to modernize infrastructure.

Speaking to the media about the 16th National Power Committee (NPC) meeting, held in Shillong on June 4, Mondal said that Meghalaya’s long-term transmission plan—extending up to 2031–32—has already been approved by the Central Electricity Authority (CEA).

The plan includes 760 MVA of additional transformation capacity and 1,090 circuit kilometers of new transmission lines, with an estimated cost of ₹2,270 crore.

“Some funding has come through the State Government and the Ministry of DoNER, but due to financial constraints, we’ve requested the Ministry of Power to provide additional support under the North Eastern Region Power System Improvement Project (NERPSIP), which is still ongoing,” Mondal said.

He also flagged the freeze in PSDF (Power System Development Fund) approvals, which has stalled several critical projects in the Northeast. “The 21st Monitoring Committee had approved PSDF for northeastern states as a special case, subject to techno-economic evaluation. But final approvals are still pending, affecting SCADA EMS system upgrades,” he explained.

Mondal called for urgent intervention by the NPC Chairman, who also heads the CEA, to push the matter forward. He noted that while other regions have advanced their transmission systems, the Northeast remains stuck due to funding bottlenecks.

The Minister emphasized the growing importance of cybersecurity preparedness, pointing out vulnerabilities in existing systems. “With increasing cyber threats to power systems, we urgently need firewall installations and technological upgrades,” he said.

Among region-specific concerns, Mondal highlighted the need for a dedicated 132/33 kV substation in border areas like Baghmara, citing both strategic and logistical challenges. “Existing 33 kV lines pass through forests and elephant corridors, making maintenance difficult. A 132 kV line will help us overcome these issues,” he noted.

On local infrastructure gaps, he acknowledged longstanding grievances in Ri-Bhoi district: “Though Ri-Bhoi generates significant power, the supply has been poor. We’ve secured land and are setting up a 132 kV substation in Nongpoh to address this.”

Mondal also outlined upcoming plans to improve transmission networks in South Garo Hills, South West Khasi Hills, and West Khasi Hills—areas frequently affected by outages.

However, Mondal clarified that such mega transmission upgrades may not be feasible in the Northeast due to geographical and corridor width limitations.

Responding to questions on cross-border cooperation with Bangladesh, he said: “We don’t have surplus power to export, and Bangladesh is power-deficit too. So, import is not viable either.”

Addressing rural power needs, the Minister said the state is planning to build 5–10 rural substations annually to reduce line lengths and ensure localized supply reliability. “We’ve placed the proposal with the Chief Minister, who has assured phased support,” he said.

On complaints from industries in Byrnihat about high tariffs, Mondal clarified: “Tariffs are determined by the State Electricity Regulatory Commission, not MeECL. If industries have concerns, they can approach the Commission. No formal representation has been made so far.”

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