DIMAPUR, FEB 15 (MExN): Playing another cruel joke on the Nagas, the Central Government has not fulfilled another commitment to construct a thermal power project that was promised by former Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee during his visit to Kohima in 2003.
Vajpayee promised the state that a thermal power project producing power of 22 MW will be constructed in the state under PM Economic Package at the cost of Rs105 crores which was suppose to be completed in the month of May or June 2005.
But, the long dream of the state to produce sufficient power for the state seems to be still miles away with the Central Government backing off the commitment and with the change in the government.
The project which started enthusiastically at 7th Mile with the hope that it will provide electricity to the state suddenly came to a halt with the Central Government releasing only 32 crores (25%) of the promised amount.
Despite repeated requests from the Central Government to release the remaining amount for the early completion of the project, the authorities has been shifting responsibilities from department to department said Moa Aier, Executive Engineer, Electrical Transmission Division, Dimapur.
Shifting responsibilities from Ministry of Power to Prime Minister, from Prime Minister to Planning Commission, from Planning Commission to the Donors etc and making lame excuses like, ‘why do the project has to start when there is no money’ or ‘we don’t have the resources now’ are the common reply when they approach the Central Government said Moa.
The whole of North East with Nagaland being one of the worst affected states at present is facing acute shortage of power supply with all the water in reservoirs of hydro power projects running dry.
The whole of Nagaland state at present is receiving only 43 MW (57%) of the required power during its peak hours and 20 MW (46%) during its off peak hours which is less than the power which the state received during the last few days.
With no other alternative, Nagaland has to wait for the monsoon which usually starts in the month of May or June, to receive regular power supply once more.
