Renewable Power Provided for Remote Indian Villages

The Micro Hydro Power and the Biomass Gasifier Project are owned and operated by the Village Councils (VC) through Village Development Boards (VDB) and mark supply of their own electricity to the villages. VDB is an executive body under VC, which is the instrument of local self-government of villages in Nagaland. Success of such projects is dependent upon local support.

The Micro Hydro Power project at Chizami, developed and owned by Chizami and Sumi Village Councils, has a capacity of 200 kW, to take care of electricity shortage in the two villages through their own electricity and mark the empowerment of villages that have shown the capability to implementing the Project. The VDBs are negotiating for selling surplus power to the State Electricity Board. The assured power supply is expected to lead to activities that enhance self-employment and small-scale industrial opportunities in and around these two villages.

The Biomass Gasifier Project at Pfutseromi village in the Phek districts has a generating capacity of 100 kW and would use locally available biomass to generate enough electricity to meet the needs of the village with assured supply of their own electricity. This would provide employment for operating the plant and create opportunities for the youth and citizens of the village.

The two projects were commissioned by Shri A.M. Gokhale, Secretary, Ministry of Non Conventional Energy Sources, which is providing guidance, support and financial assistance to similar initiatives across the country. The Ministry is focusing on biomass, small hydro, solar and wind, as they are suitable and sustainable to the local conditions.