Shillong, Dec. 21: The Khasi Students’ Union (KSU) has threatened to launch an agitation on the handing over of major power projects to private companies.

Addressing a news conference here today, KSU president Samuel Jyrwa said the government handed over major power projects, including the 1,000-mw Kynshi Stage I and II and 260-mw Umgot power projects to private companies in a hush-hush manner. Setting a December-31 deadline, Jyrwa said: “We want the state government to scrap the deal, which was signed by the government and the private companies.”

The students’ body pointed out that the state power department had finalised the power policy last August. and But the policy was amended on December 3 following demands by various social organisations.

The notification of the amended power policy was published only on December 10. The students’ union said though the state government had assured all the organisations that the public and other stakeholders’ views would be sought before amending the power policy, it was not done by the government. “The state power department amended the power policy in a hurry on December 3 to suit the interest of private companies, Jyrwa said. He reiterated that the amended power policy should be made public for the sake of transparency and accountability.

The students’ union leader said on December 7, the state cabinet was hurriedly called with just six ministers. They decided to hand over the six power projects to private companies. The union also pointed out that according to the power policy, projects above 100-mw capacity have to go through the international competitive bidding (ICB), which was not followed by the state government. The KSU has also written to chief minister D.D. Lapang saying that the handing over of the power projects to private companies was a total sell-out.

On December 7, the state cabinet approved the handing over of six other hydro-power projects, which will be a joint venture with major private companies under the build-operate-transfer system. The six power projects are Kynshi Stage-I, Kynshi Stage-II, Umngot, Leshka Stage-II, Umiew and Simsang Basin.

The government will hand over only Mawphu hydro-electricity project to North East Electric Power Corporation (Neepco).

Power ministerMukul Sangma had earlier said that except the Mawphu hydro-power project, the six other projects will be taken up as a joint venture with power sector companies under build-operate-transfer system, which will be operated for 40 years. After 40 years, the projects will be handed over to the Meghalaya State Electricity Board.

While Kynshi Stage-I will be executed by Athena Project Private Limited, Kynshi Stage-II and Umngot project will be taken up by JP Group, Leshka Stage-II by SEW Energy Limited and Simsang Basin by Seven Sisters Energy Limited. The government and ETA Star Infrastructure Limited would jointly undertake two other projects, with capacities of 57 mw and 69 mw, in the Umiew river.