Kynshi Hydro Project Back on Track as Meghalaya Moves to Reinstate MoU with Athena

Shillong, July 3: The Meghalaya state government is set to reinstate the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed with M/s Athena Private Limited for the implementation of the Kynshi Hydro Power Project Stage-I.

Power Minister AT Mondal today announced that a proposal to reinstate the MoU will soon be placed before the cabinet.

The project was initially allotted to Athena Pvt Ltd on a Run-of-the-River (RoR) basis. However, the company later proposed a hybrid model incorporating Pump Storage Project (PSP) technology. As PSP was not part of the original MoU or the state’s power policy, the cabinet decided to scrap the agreement.

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With the new power policy now incorporating PSP, Athena Pvt Ltd has opted to revert to the original RoR model without PSP, citing improved feasibility with new technology.

“With the coming up of new technology, they said RoR is also feasible. So they want to go for the same old proposal of RoR minus the PSP. Since the cabinet had scrapped it, we now need to place it before the cabinet again to reinstate the old MoU. This is the present status,” Mondal told reporters.

He stated that the state government will receive 12 per cent free power once the project is implemented, with 1 Per cent allocated for local area development.

The minister also met a delegation of the Joint Committee of Local People on Kynshi Hydro Power Project (JCLPKHPP) and expressed optimism about the project’s future.

He assured the delegation that a joint meeting would be held to facilitate cooperation between the government, the company, and local stakeholders.

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“I am very optimistic because we need further power generation. Without generation, we cannot improve our power position. They met me and I’m thankful. I’ve been in touch with them for quite a long time. Today they came with a charter of demands and whatever they discussed, it’s okay, there’s no problem,” the minister said.

“Today’s meeting also gave me some energy. I have told the department to stay in touch with the people not just for signing the MoU but also for executing the project,” he added.

(Newmai News Network)