Centre allocates not 300 but 179 MW power to Assam

Digital Desk: The Ministry of Power on Monday allotted 179 MegaWatt of power from the NTPC Dadri-I Plant to Assam instead of the 300 MW.

Amid the state's electricity crisis, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma met with Union Electricity Minister RK Singh in New Delhi earlier this month. The union minister promised to give the state at least 300MW of power during the meeting.

The central government finally allotted 179 MW of power today, after two weeks. The power ministry stated in a letter to the head of the Central Electricity Authority that “Keeping in view the power relinquished by Govt. of Delhi in NTPC Dadri-I Plant and the request of Government of Assam, it has been decided to allocate the 179 MW Power (currently allocated to Haryana upto 30.09.2023 vide allocation order dated 28.10.2022) of NTPC’s Dadri-I Plant to Assam w.e.f. 01.10.2023 for one year at CERC determined tariff.”

"CEA is requested to get the allocation implemented under intimation to all concerned w.e.f. 01.10.2023," it added.

Informing the public about the power ministry's decision, CM Sarma wrote on X, "My heartfelt gratitude to Hon'ble Union Power Minister Shri @RajKSinghIndia ji for considering my request and allocating an additional 179 MW of power to the State We are committed to ensuring adequate supply of power to industries and households that fuels the Assam growth story."

Earlier, when the state chief minister and the union power minister first met, the latter was informed of the economy's expanding output sectors' record 26 per cent increase in power demand.

The CM then informed about the developments on the X platform, stating, "Union Power Minister RK Singh has assured to consider my request to allocate at least 300 MW of power to Assam, which will aid in tiding over the current power deficit."

When speaking to the media earlier, CM Sarma said that load shedding was being carefully monitored, adding that 1,800 MW was required whereas this year we needed 2,500 MW.