The Union Power Ministry has approved agreements to be signed by Meghalaya with North Eastern Electric Power Corporation for setting up two power projects of total capacity 585 MW in the State, official sources said on Wednesday.
The agreements for a 500 MW thermal power project in Garo Hills and the 85 MW Mawphu Stage II hydel project were approved yesterday, the sources said.
The agreements, which were approved by the State government in May last, are expected to be signed shortly.
“The project monitoring committees will try their best to ensure that it is implemented on time while strictly following the provisions laid down in the agreement,” a source said, adding that 80 per cent of the jobs generated by the projects would be reserved for locals.
Sources said one per cent of the project cost in the thermal project would be used for the development works in the project area in the East Garo Hills district.
The State-run power company has selected Narengri in East Garo Hills district as the site for the thermal project and the coal would be brought in from the neighbouring mines of South and East Garo Hills.
The preparation of detailed project report would take about an year, while the project is expected to be completed in about four years, the officials said.
Although Meghalaya has a hydro-electric potential of 3,000 MW, the present power generation capacity of the State is only 185 MW against the demand of 600 MW.
