NTPC Signs MOU for Kaladan Hydro Electric Power Project in Mizoram

A 460 MW hydroelectric project will be set up by state-run National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) in Mizoram, officials said.

A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between NTPC and the Mizoram government to commission the Rs.30 billion power project in Sahia and Lawngtlai districts of southern Mizoram.

The Kaladan Hydro Electric Power Project (KHEPP) on the Kaladan river will be NTPC's first hydro power project in the northeast and the second power project in the region after the 750 MW Bongaigaon coal-based thermal power project in Assam.

"The power project would be commissioned by 2013 and the surplus power would be supplied to neighbouring northeastern states after meeting the requirement of Mizoram," secretary of the Mizoram power department K. Lal Nghinglova told media.

NTPC will execute the project on build, own, operate and maintain basis. Work will start within six months."Power tariff and the power-sharing formula would be determined by the Central Electricity Regulatory Commission in consultation with the NTPC, union power ministry and the Mizoram government," Nghinglova said.

"It was decided that the electricity generated would be provided to the affected families (people displaced due to construction of the project) free of cost for 10 years from the date of commissioning."

According to the MoU, all the recruitment of the workforce would be done from among the affected families and in case of non-availability of suitable personnel among them, the recruitment would be done from other parts of Mizoram.