Chief Minister Conrad Sangma today inaugurated the long awaited 22.5 MW Ganol Hydro Power Project, near Tura in West Garo Hills district.
The foundation of the project was laid in 2014.
Terming the inauguration of the project as ‘historic’ and landmark day for Garo Hills, the Chief Minister said that the project worth over Rs 560 crore was completed with sheer commitment of the current government that had envisaged to put Garo Hills in the power map of the nation.
“Ganol project was almost abandoned, the State Government had made investment but due to paucity of funds it was not completed. In 2018, when the current government took over, it ensured that the funds were made available to restart the project,” he added.
Sangma said that by ensuring completion of the project, the government has demonstrated to the people of Garo Hills its will to ensure large infrastructure projects for the common interest of the State and its people.
He said that the project will aid to a large extend to supplement power requirement in Garo Hills region. He said more such projects would be required and the government is committed to come up with such big infrastructure projects in future.
The State currently requires about 380 MW of power.
The Ganol Hydroelectric Project utilised the Ganol river fall near Tura and its water by installing 3 Turbine – Generator units of 7.5 MW each, of which one was made operational today and the remaining two will be made operational in the next few months, a statement from the chief minister’s office said.
Meghalaya Power Generation Corporation along with different stakeholders including India’s leading hydro power construction company Patel Engineering Ltd., Mumbai as its lead contractor and Civil & HM Contractor Onycon Infra LLP, Mumbai and E&M Contractor Toshiba Plant Systems & Services Corporation, Japan combined together to complete the first engineering marvel hydro power project of Garo Hills.
The project has maximum features of hydro projects, that is, the Diversion Tunnel, Dam, Power Intake, Head Race Tunnel, Surge Shaft, Upper Horizontal, Vertical and Lower Horizontal Pressure Shafts and the Power House along with Switch Yard.
