The Mizoram government has decided to privatise or outsource seven small hydel power plants due to rising maintenance costs, a senior official from the Power and Electricity Department said on Sunday. Chief Minister Lalduhoma announced the decision on Saturday while inaugurating a 10-MW solar power plant at Thenzawl in Serchhip district. He said outsourcing operations would help the state reduce high upkeep expenses associated with smaller hydel projects. The move has attracted criticism from the opposition Congress. Former legislator T.T. Zothansanga warned that privatisation could hurt Mizoram’s long-term interests, pointing to the revenue-generating potential of the state’s hydropower assets. Mizoram currently operates 14 hydroelectric plants with a combined capacity of over 100 MW, developed under successive governments, including the 12-MW Serlui-B project in Kolasib district. At the same time, the state government plans to proceed with two major hydel power projects. A 24-MW plant on the Tuirini river, located about 60 km from Aizawl, will be developed at an estimated cost of Rs 6.76 billion. In addition, a 132-MW project on the Tuivai river in Saitual district near the Manipur border is planned at an estimated cost of Rs 24 billion and is expected to generate around 380 million units of electricity annually. Lalduhoma said the foundation stone for the Tuirini project would be laid soon, while planning work for the Tuivai project is progressing steadily. The chief minister also announced the development of six new solar parks with a combined capacity of 66 MW across Mizoram. At present, the state imports most of its electricity, mainly from Tripura, at an annual cost of around Rs 4 billion. Mizoram’s power demand is growing at an annual rate of 7.6 per cent, with peak demand touching 160 MW. The Zoram People’s Movement government has committed to keeping electricity tariffs unchanged for the next five years to ensure affordable power for economically weaker sections and small businesses.