Tura, Jan 4: Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma on Wednesday inaugurated the long awaited 22.5 MW Ganol Hydro Power Project, near Tura in West Garo Hills, in the presence of Deputy Chief Minister Power Prestone Tynsong and Health Minister James K. Sangma.
Power generation has been an hurdle in Garo Hills region especially during dry winter months. The commissioning of the Ganol Hydro Power Project will largely meet the peak electricity demands and is a step closer towards self sufficiency in power generation pic.twitter.com/8gZWZ4wLWF
— Conrad Sangma (@SangmaConrad) January 4, 2023
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 cr was completed with sheer commitment of the current Government that had envisaged to put Garo Hills in the power map of the nation.
He lauded James K. Sangma, who during his tenure as power minister had mooted the idea to revive the abandoned project and ensure its completion. “As suggested by James K. Sangma, the Government decided to release additional funds to complete the project,” he added.
“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 said. The foundation for the project was laid in 2014.
He said that Government had challenge to ensure completion of this project but with a strong determination the State Government took the onus upon itself to complete the project. He said that that by ensuring completion of this project, the Government has demonstrated to the people of Garo Hills that this Government has the 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 extent 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.
He also credited Deputy Chief Minister in-charge Power Prestone Tynsong and the entire power department for their determination to ensure that the project was completed on time.
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 on Wednesday and the remaining two will be made operational in the next few months.
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 Ganol Hydro Project is unique, having maximum features of hydro projects i.e. The Diversion Tunnel, Dam, Power Intake, Head Race Tunnel, Surge Shaft, Upper Horizontal, Vertical and Lower Horizontal Pressure Shafts, finally the Power House along with Switch Yard.
