Haflong, October 7, 2021 : Union Finance Minister Smti. Nirmala
Sitharaman on October 7 performed Bhoomi Pujan and unveiled the
foundation stone of Assam Power Generation Corporation Limited’s 120MW Lower
Kopili Hydro Electric Project at Longku in Dima Hasao district in presence of Assam
Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, Power
Minister Bimal Bora, Chief Executive Member of the N C Hills Autonomous Council
Debolal Gorlosa, CEM of the Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council Tuliram Ronghang and other dignitaries.
As per information, in December 2020 the
Government of India signed a $231 million ADB loan to boost electricity
generation capacity in Assam through construction of a 120 megawatt (MW)
hydroelectric power plant that will enhance availability of electricity for
households.
This run-of-the-river
project over Kopili River will help increase electricity supplied from clean
energy by 469 gigawatthour (GWh) by 2025 and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by
360,000 tons of carbon dioxide annually.
The Chief Minister
said this project, to be completed by 2024, will add to Assam’s power generation
capacity from clean hydroelectric source and improve electricity availability.
Affordable and clean electricity generated through the project will greatly
improve quality of living, promote businesses and increase employment
opportunities in the State, he said.
Thanking Prime
Minister Narendra Modi and Union Finance Minister Sitharaman for helping Assam
with externally aided projects, he informed Rs 1700 crore out of total project
cost Rs 2200 crore has been provided by central Government and the earnings
from this project will be fully utilised for Dima Hasao’s development.
He also urged L&T
to complete the project strictly within its schedule of June 2024.
Power Minister Bimal
Bora, CEM NCHAC Debolal Gorlosa, CEM KAAC Tuliram Ronghang were also present at
the programme along with other dignitaries.
Later,Union Finance
Minister Nirmala Sitharaman also laid the foundation stone of improvement and
upgradation work of 90 km road from Haflong Tinali to Lower Haflong.The ADB
aided Assam Road Network Improvement Project (ARNIP) aims to enhance the road
transportation in Assam by assisting the PWD to build sustainable and resilient
infrastructure.
Under Assam Government
flagship ‘Asom Mala’programmeinitiative has been taken to objectively improve the State Highways (SH)
and Major District Roads (MDR) Network in the State with funding from multiple
sources.ARNIP aims to improve and upgrade about 313 km SH and MDRs while
working towards road safety improvement of 200 km.
Saying that implementation of this externally
aided project will result in better road infrastructure in Dima Hasao’s
Haflong, Umrongso and other parts, the Chief Minister informed the StateGovernment
will spend Rs 900 crore for building roads in Dima Hasaoand Rs 250 crore will be spent for construction of
Umrongso- Lanka road within 9 months.
He also asserted peace
has also returned to the hill districts of Assam as all militant organisations
here have been engaged in peace talks with Government.The tourism potential of
Dima Hasao is immense as it is endowed with mesmerising natural beauty.
Improvement in road infrastructure will greatly facilitate tourist footfall and
result in economic development of this area, he said.
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