Shillong, Feb 10: As Meghalaya is facing acute power shortage in the state which is leading to load shedding, one of the reason being some of the power projects in the state are not performing as per expectation.
The much ambitious newly commissioned Myntdu-Leshka project in the Jaintia hills also could not produce much power during the dry season.
Talking to media on the production of multi crore Myntdu Leshka Power project, Power Minister Clement Marak informed that the project is generating 6-7 mw of power since this is a lean season.
The much touted Myntdu-Leshka hydro electric project which cost a whopping Rs 1100 crore was supposed to generate 126 MW of power in three phases but is now generating only minimum power.
The Leshka has suffered from tremendous time and cost overruns without the project handlers having to pay any penalty.
During dry season, every year electricity has been playing truant in Shillong city.
However, to meet the power shortfall in this state capital, Government has decided to go for power exchange from the Palantana Power project.
This was decided in a meeting organised to review the demands of power requirement in the state which is leading to load shedding.
Speaking to media persons after the review meeting of the power department, Power Minister Clement Marak said that the State Government will go for power exchange and it will be worked out within two weeks’ time.
Stating that there is a shortfall of 43-44 mw of power in the state, he said that there is a demand of 214 mw of power in the state in February but the state could manage around 171 mw of power.
The state’s own generation in the month of February is 46 mw and the total anticipated average power availability in the state is 171 mw including power from different shares while the demand comes to 214 mw.
Adding worries of the state, NEEPCO has stopped supplying power to Meghalaya due to the inability of the State Government to clear the dues.
According to Marak, the state has to clear the due of NEEPCO which comes to 385.89 crores and the total outstanding amount for the state to pay to other companies is 449.93 crores.
He stated that the State Government has written to the Union Government to assist the state in clearing the dues, he however point out that other option for the State Government to clear the dues is to get a loan from the State Bank of India
“We are working on it,” he said.
The Minister also stressed on the need to develop thermal power projects in the state since Hydro power project are run of the river project even as he informed that the Government is working on a thermal power project of 120 mw thermal power near Shallang and survey and investigation is going for the project.
The problem of load shedding has cause a severe touble to the state in wake of the upcoming board and degree exam which is schedule for February-March.
The students are having tough time due to load shedding programme. However, the Minister stated that the department has decided to review the timings of load shedding for convenience of students who are preparing for board examinations.(SP News)
