Shillong, April 29: The United Democratic Party (UDP) today staged a sit-in-demonstration to protest against the insensitivity of the State government in addressing the present power crisis in the state. The UDP demanded from the government to immediately come up with a “white-paper” on the power scenario and to set up of a central bureau of investigation (CBI) inquiry into the failure of the Rs 1300 crore Myntdu Leskha Hydro Power Project.
The demonstration was held near the parking lot of the additional secretariat’s, party MLAs, MDCs, leaders, workers and functionaries led by Jemino Mawthoh MLA from Nongthymmai . In the demonstration the party displaying placards carrying slogans that read as – “power project or pocket project, we need to know”, “Rs 300 crore to Rs 1300 crore, if not corruption where is the power? CBI inquiry demanded,” “Hello Mr CM, how long you will keep us in the dark,” and “Before power surplus now, power deficit, why?.”
“We are alarmed at the prevailing situation and we expressed our great disappointment on the insensitivity, lackadaisical and indifference attitude of the State government to address the issue of power leaving the residents who have been complying to pay electricity bills regularly to suffer for no fault of theirs,” Mawthoh, also a legislator from Nongthymmai told reporters here.
He said, “We are suffering for weeks and the normal life has been affected due to breakdown of the system failure,” adding “The unprecedented power shutdown and whatever justification by the state government and the Meghalaya Electricity Corporation Limited (MeECL) is unacceptable.”
Stating Meghalaya was once a surplus power state, Mawthoh said unfortunately now, even after execution of agreements with several private power companies, the state government is tight-lipped on the status and what had happened to these power projects. The UDP will submit a four-point demand to the Chief Minister Mukul Sangma on the issue of power crisis.
“We demand that probe by the CBI be instituted into the failure of MeECL’s Leskha power project which is one of the most costliest power project and a big failure project. The project which is supposed to generate around 126 MW but unfortunately it is generating not less than 6MW,” Mawthoh said while pointing out that the cost escalation from Rs 300 crore to Rs 1300 is a big question.
While asking the government to ensure uninterrupted power supply, he said, “The state government should also come out with white paper on the power scenario including the state’s present generation, distribution and commissioning of such power projects. The people deserve answers.”
The UDP demand that the Power minister Clement Marak should step down , since, the state government cannot address the power crisis, the power minister should own responsibility and step down on moral ground.” The UDP MLA Questioning the functioning of the MeECL, he said, “It is high time that the government considers revamping the MeECL.” (SP News)
