New power sub-station iugurated

Ganol project at Mendipathar to be commissioned in 2017: CM

A REPORTER

SHILLONG, Dec 22: Meghalaya Chief Minister Mukul Sangma today iugurated the 132/33, 2x20 MVA Substation at Mendipathar in North Garo Hills. The commissioning of this project came as a Christmas gift for the people of the district, which has been experiencing acute shortage of power supply and frequent power cuts, fulfilling the long-awaited dream of the people of the region.

The project was funded by North Eastern Council with a total cost of Rs. 14.5 crore and is one of the most important sub-stations in the State. It is the third substation in Garo Hills after Nongalbibra and Rongkhon substations.

Dedicating the substation to the people of the region after iugurating the station by switching on the transformer breaker and 33 KV feeder breakers, the Chief Minister said he was glad to share the joy of the people in getting their long-cherished dreams fulfilled. He also congratulated the team of MeECL for working hard to get this project commissioned on time adding that it could not have come at a better time than Christmas.

He said that the project is a comprehensive effort of all concerned and an offshoot of the design of the Government to address the issues of backwardness and poverty and respond to the needs of the people as per the demands of time.

He recalled the time when the proposed railway line to Depa had to be given up due to certain fears and doubts of the people. He also said that the Industrial Growth Centre in the region, which was conceptualized a long time ago, could now become a reality as the prerequisites for industrialization - Railways and Power – are now available.

The Chief Minister also informed that this year out of RIDF fund Rs.112 crore has been earmarked for Ganol hydro project.

Regarding the long talked about Transmission Line from Agia to Nongalbibra, he said Rs. 43 crore was invested for the project, because without it the Mendipathar substation would not have been possible.

He also said that with uninterrupted fund flow, Ganol project is expected to be completed by 2017, adding that this will be fastest power project in the country as far as hydro power project is concerned.

“After investing so much of money Ganol project has to be sustaible and to make it sustaible we have to involve a lot of people in dialogue process to preserve all the vegetative coverage,” he added