Northeast power meet underway

The 9th conference of North Eastern Regional Power Committee (NERPC) went underway here today, which is likely to focus on overcoming the power shortage.

"Development of power sector in North-East and various aspects of power generation and power distribution would be discussed," Meghalaya Energy Corporation Limited spokesperson ED Kharmujai said.

Agencies of the region's power utility sectors will be present at the conference along with experts.

Representative from Central electrical authorities are also participating.

The conference will focus on the technical aspects, while tomorrow the power ministers of the region would share their views and come up with ideas to enhance the power scenario in the region.

North-East has the potential of producing 70,000mw of hydro-power, enough to light up half of India, experts say.

Arunachal Pradesh alone has the potential to produce 50,000mw of hydro-power.

Meghalaya power minister AT Mondol said issues ranging from generation, transmission, inter-state power issues, power deficit and grievances with PowerGrid will be discussed.

"It is a common platform to take up the issues. The problems forwarded to NERPC which will later take up with the Union government," he said.