Shillong, March 02: The Hynniewtrep Youth Council today has submitted memorandum to power Miniter Mr. James P.K. Sangma, questioning the Meghalaya Government why the cost of smart meter in is Rs. 9444.44 per unit and who will bear the cost of the meter.
The memorandum submitted by the HYC to the paper minister stated that, it came to thier knowledge through various Newspaper Reports and documents available with us, the Meghalaya Energy Corporation Limited (MeECL) under your leadership as a Power Minister recently launched the “Smart Meter Project” in the State.
That, the Contract for the said project was allotted to the JV of ‘Satnam Global Infra Projects Ltd, JPM Industries Ltd and Inhemeter Co. Ltd’ at the Total Project Cost of INR 232,96,39,343.00 (Rupees Two Hundred Thirty Two Crores Ninety Six lakh Thirty Nine Thousand Three Hundred fourty three only) for the supply and installations of about 20,7015 Nos. Of Smart Meters for Shillong Area and areas other than Shillong.
That, for the sake of public interest and in particulars the consumers of MeECL, we would like to place before you the following point for considerations and necessary clarifications:
That, as per records available with us the cost of supply and installation of each Meter is INR 9444.44 per Unit (without taxes and provisional sum), which is way more higher when compared to other States in India wherein the cost of each Meter is some where around INR 3000 only. Why, the Cost of these Meters in our state is two times more than in other States in India? The Consumers are within their rights to be informed of this.
That, the Cost for the implementation of the above stated Project is being funded by ADB as a loan to which MeECL/MPDCL has to repay in the near future. Dont you think that above and over the already existing liabilities of MeECL/MPDCL to other parties which often lead to erratic power supply in the State, the Government is adding more debts to MeECL and that also to the tune of INR 230 Crores.
That, it is not clear as to who will bear the cost of the supply and installation of these Smart Meters.
That, as per records this Project will be implemented in Shillong or East/West Khasi Hills Areas targeting about 2 lakhs Consumers in order to reduced the Aggregate Technical & Commercial Losses (AT&C Losses).
However, as per our knowledge, the higher percentage of AT&C Losses occurred in other Districts of the State amounting to about 70 to 80 % thereby causing loss of revenue to the Corporations.
So, it is a fit case to implement this Smart Meter project in any of these Districts, even on a Pilot project basis, with higher percentage of AT&C Losses than implementing it in the City of Shillong or in East/West Khasi Hills Distict which has a AT&C.
losses of about 10-15 % only. It is therefore necessary to clarify as to why Shillong is being chosen to implement this Project and not in areas with more AT & C losses.
That, these Smart Meters when fitted with GPRS/3G/4G mobile communication module and all other accessories, will have any radioactive reactions or any health related effects to the Consumers or not? This fact should be made public and made known to the consumers before they are installed.
Based on the above facts, we urged upon your good office to kindly provide clarification on the concerns raised above in the interest of the general public and also to keep this Project on hold till such time the consumers are aware of all the benefits and effects of these Smater said Mr Roykupar Synrem General secretary and Mr. Robertjune K Jahrin president of the HYC in the press statement issued today.
