Mizoram plans Rs 2,289 crore hydropower project on Tuivai river

The Mizoram Government is planning to set up a 132-mw hydropower project on the Tuivai river in Saitual district near the Manipur border to boost electricity generation amid rising power demand in the State, officials said on Wednesday.

Chief Minister Lalduhoma chaired a high-level review meeting to expedite the proposed Tuivai Hydroelectric Project, which is estimated to cost Rs 2,289.50 crore and is expected to be completed within five years. Power Minister F Rodingliana and senior officials of the Power and Electricity Department attended the meeting.

The Detailed Project Report (DPR) has been completed, and the proposal is now ready for the tendering process, officials said.

The State Government is exploring the implementation of the project under the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model, they added.

According to the 20th Electric Power Survey, Mizoram’s peak power demand stands at 182 MW and is projected to rise to around 213 MW by 2030.

Although the State has an installed power generation capacity of 50.20 MW, actual production remains significantly lower, with only around 10 per cent of Mizoram’s total electricity requirement currently being met through local generation, officials said. The State Government spends nearly Rs 649.54 crore annually on power purchases, excluding transmission charges, making expansion of local power generation a priority area, they said.

The Tuivai Hydroelectric Project was initially surveyed by the Central Water Commission in 1992 with a proposed generation capacity of 210 MW.

However, as part of the proposed dam area extended into neighbouring Manipur, the project was redesigned and re-surveyed. A revised DPR has now been prepared with a reduced generation capacity of 132 MW.

The review meeting also decided that the annual financial requirements for implementation of the project would be examined in consultation with the Finance Department.

Besides the Tuivai project, the meeting reviewed the progress of the ongoing Tuirini Hydroelectric Project and the implementation of works under the Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme (RDSS).

Discussions were also held on issues to be raised with the Union Power Minister Manohar Lal during his upcoming visit to Mizoram, officials said.