Rain brings hope for power starved Meghalaya

The state received about 142 mm rainfall. This is expected to raise the water level at the Umiam Dam to levels necessary to generate power

Picture used for representative purpose

Rains have finally brought hope for power starved Meghalaya. Amid the deepening power crisis in the state, the government as well as people heaved a sigh of relief after the state experienced some heavy showers over the past couple of days after a dry spell with scanty rainfall that had put the entire power generation at stake.

The water level at the Umiam Dam, the prime source of power for the whole of Meghalaya, had dropped to 3,162.30 feet and was almost on the verge of shutting down. The minimum level of water required for power generation at Umiam is 3,164 feet.

But with the state receiving around 142 mm rainfall, Meghalaya Power minister Abu Taher Mondal is hopeful this will help improve the power situation in the state.
“We are hoping that the situation will now be better and with more rains it will be in our favour and give relief to the consumers. If monsoon is there, and we have plenty of water in the rivers, then there will be no problem because most of the projects are hydel based,” the Power Minister said.

The Meghalaya power minister said that the state is completely dependent on hydel power projects. “Our own generation is sufficient, but in lean season we have problems. We also get our share from central utilities.”

Speaking on the long term measures to ensure 24×7 uninterrupted power supply to the people of the state, Mondal said that the state government is working towards making power projects based on gas, thermal as well as renewable energy operational. But this will take time, the minister said.

The minister had earlier said that the state at present has the capacity to generate 1.5 million units or less than that as compared to the requirement of 6.67 million units.

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