Kenye seeks answers for Nagaland’s power woes in Delhi

DIMAPUR — Seeking redress for Nagaland’s perennial power problems, the minister for Power and Parliamentary Affairs, KG Kenye is reported to be in New Delhi, knocking on the doors of two central ministries—Power, and New and Renewable Energy.

A press release issued by the minister’s PRO on Wednesday informed that Kenye has been in active discussions with senior officials from the union ministry of Power seeking central intervention and support.

“His talks emphasise the immense potential of Nagaland’s largely untapped hydroelectric resources, which have remained underutilised due to significant infrastructural and logistical barriers.

“Kenye is advocating for Nagaland’s power development projects under the scheme ‘Budgetary Support for the Cost of Enabling Infrastructure for Hydro Electric Projects (HEP)’, a central government initiative aimed at accelerating the development of hydroelectric power, particularly in remote and hilly regions like Nagaland,” stated the press release.

The scheme is said to offer financial assistance for the development of essential infrastructure, including roads, bridges, transmission lines, and communication networks—considered to be critical prerequisites for any hydroelectric power venture.

“In September 2024, the Union Cabinet approved a proposal to modify and enhance this scheme, earmarking INR 12,461 crore for the nation, of which INR 4,136 crore has been allocated to the north-eastern states.

“This funding will be implemented from FY 2024-25 through FY 2031-32. The revised scheme is designed to address the unique challenges faced by remote areas like Nagaland, providing support not only for physical infrastructure but also for the technical framework required to integrate power generation into the national grid,” it informed.

It went on to state that Nagaland’s energy vision extends beyond the immediate need to alleviate power shortages, aiming for long-term sustainable energy development. “A key element of this strategy is leveraging Central Financial Assistance (CFA) to facilitate the state’s equity participation in joint ventures with Central Public Sector Undertakings (CPSUs).

“This collaborative model will enable the development of large-scale hydroelectric projects, unlocking Nagaland’s full energy potential. The scheme also encourages private sector involvement and includes provisions for pumped storage projects (PSPs), which will help stabilise the grid and enhance the integration of renewable energy sources. These modifications could position Nagaland’s hydroelectric sector as a significant driver of socio-economic growth in the state,” it added.

Besides the officials from the Power ministry, Kenye met with the ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) to explore the potential for Small Hydro Power (SHP) projects in the state.

The geographic landscape of Nagaland, characterised by numerous small rivers and streams, makes it ideally suited for SHP projects, it stated.

“While larger states can rely on massive rivers for large-scale hydroelectric dams, the north-eastern states stand to benefit from SHP projects that are more compatible with their smaller water bodies. Although the MNRE already has a programme dedicated to the development of SHP under its renewable energy initiatives, the program has been stalled in the Northeastern Region for over a decade.

“Kenye has urged the ministry to revive and expedite these long-pending SHP projects. During his discussions with the MNRE Secretary, he emphasised the need for enhanced central support to scale these smaller projects across the north-eastern states. By focusing on SHP, Nagaland can harness clean energy from its rivers, create localised employment opportunities, and ensure that off-grid communities benefit from the electricity generated, thus contributing to rural development in the region,” it stated.

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