Aizawl: Mizoram Chief Minister Lalduhoma, who also holds the Finance portfolio, presented the first annual budget of the new Zoram People's Movement (ZPM) government earlier this week. What stood out as a key feature of the Rs 14,412 crore budget, however, was the government’s resolve to freeze power tariff hikes.

The Zoram People’s Movement (ZPM) in Mizoram will not hike the power bills during its tenure, Lalduhoma promised, as it “affects the utility bills of every household directly” leading to financial misery for lower-income households. The government will be navigating to other areas that do not directly affect the day-to-day lives of the people, he noted.

Mizoram currently operates 15 small hydroelectric projects that generate 38.55 MW of power. The Mizoram government has set aside an amount of Rs 33-37 crore per month to purchase power from outside, as the state requires 156 MW of power during peak demand. Three hydel electric projects with a total generation capacity of 294 MW and four solar power plants, which can produce 45 MW of power, are in the pipeline.

Measures will be taken to upscale the power supply without increasing tariffs, according to Lalduhoma.

The government has sought to modernize infrastructure and promote renewable energy by upgrading old transformers to new transformers and transitioning to grid-connected rooftop solar. The new measures can enhance efficiency and sustainability in energy systems.

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