Department of Information and Public Relations

Press Release No. 584/05

JVC AGREEMENT SIGNED BETWEEN MESEB AND PGVIL

The Joint Venture Company (JVC) Agreement for formation of the “The Byrnihat Transmission Company Limited” (BTCL) was signed between the Meghalaya State Electricity Board (MESEB) and the Power Grid Corporation of India Limited (PGCIL) in the Ministry of Power at Shram Shakti Bhavan, New Delhi, earlier this morning, in the presence of Mr. R. V. Shahi, Secretary Power, Government of India and Mr. P. J. Bazeley, Chief Secretary to the Government of Meghalaya and Chairman MESEB.

The aim of the Agreement is to implement and complete the proposed 220 KV Double Circuit Misa-Byrnihat Transmission Line and 320 MVA Sub-Station at Byrnihat, which had been submitted for funding by the Ministry of DONER over two years ago, but could not be funded under NLCPR programme, at an estimated cost of Rs.143.00 crores and within a period of eighteen months.

The critical shortage of power for industrial consumption in the Byrnihat and other industrial belts if the State will be adequately resolved as soon as the said transmission line is completed and commissioned.

Press Release No. 585/05

MD OF THE NATIONAL HORTICULTURE BOARD MEETS CM

The Managing Director, National Horticulture Board Government of India, Dr. J. N. Chamber, met the Chief Minister in his office chamber today, September 8, 2005. During his first visit to the state of Meghalaya after he assumed charge four months ago, Dr. Chamber visited the All Women’s Floriculture Self-Help Groups at Mawkriah, and the Rose and Strawberry farms at Dewlieh. He also met with the senior bankers of the state as well as the senior officials of the State Agriculture Department.

In his meeting with the Chief Minister, Dr. Chamber briefed the CM about the nature of schemes that the Horticulture Board supports and shared his view that the state is now ready and poised for credit linked development projects in Horticulture. While informing that Meghalaya has tremendous potential for developing commercial Horticulture and Floriculture, he also stated that the National Horticulture Board is prepared to support schemes relating to the development of processing facilities as well as post harvest management i.e. cold storages, etc. He also informed that back ended subsidy upto 20% will be provided to the beneficiaries and that the maximum assistance for the North East has been pegged at Rs. 30.00 (thirty) lakhs.

The Chief Minister informed the MD, NHB that there has been an appreciable improvement in the Horticulture sector in the state in the recent past but more needs to be done to consolidate the gains. He also stated that the possibility of giving matching assistance to the NHB beneficiaries from the state government should be considered so that the loan burden is reduced. This will also attract potential entrepreneurs to this sector, he felt. A similar scheme was launched in the Uttranchal state that made a big difference to the state’s horticulture and thereby, the state’s economy, the meeting was informed. The MD, NGB also called on the Horticulture Minister, Government of Meghalaya.