Meghalaya power scenario: Govt in a better position this time, says Power Minister AT Mondal

Power Minister Abu Taher Mondal said that the government is also working on ways to see that electricity is used judiciously.

Meghalaya Power Minister Abu Taher Mondal today allayed apprehensions regarding a power crisis, a situation that was witnessed last year in the state. Although this prompted the government to purchase power from other sources, but this time the Meghalaya Government is in a better position to handle any eventuality.

Power Minister Abu Taher Mondal said that the government is also working on ways to see that electricity is used judiciously. In fact the Meghalaya Government has roped in experts to help the government with proper distribution and transmission system.

The minister in terms of the present power scenario in the state said, “We are having review meetings to see that electricity is used judiciously, so that we do not have the same kind of situation which we suffered last year. We will try to minimize it (wastage) as much as possible. Till now we have not discussed about load shedding. We are self-sufficient till water is there. We are in a better position this time.”

When asked if the government is working on any particular MoU to address the power situation if the need arises, minister AT Mondal mentioned, “MoUs are not basically for power purchase or power regulation. MoUs are to find ways and means on how we can explore more possibility of having more power projects and there is a buzz in the country as well as the world over, which is that PSP (Pump Storage Projects). So we have employed people to help us identify the rivers or basins which will be actually fruitful for such type of projects and run of the river projects also. They will look into helping us with the power distribution system and transmission system on technical lines.”

Power Minister Abu Taher Mondal said that the ongoing rehabilitation works of Umiam Stage-I dam is likely to be completed before the start of the monsoon.

He said holes are being drilled to see exactly the condition of the concrete and also to see the extent of the seepages. The minister also informed that there will be total shutdown on movement of vehicles when the bridge is lifted for replacement of the bearings.

Last year the state had to undergo serious power crisis and the state government had resorted to load shedding for hours. Power Minister AT Mondal had informed that despite heavy rainfall, Meghalaya was not generating enough electricity for uninterrupted power supply.

Speaking to Northeast Live, AT Mondal had said that the State’s own power generation is insufficient and that returning the banked power to the various generation companies is one of the reasons why the state has to resort to load shedding.

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