Shillong, April 27: There is urgent need for the State Governent to urgently consider facilitating engaging an promoting setting up of mini hydro, thermal an solar Projects with active participation of the Chiefs of the Khasi States, the Dolloi, Sirdar, Lyngdoh, Nokmas, Clan Elders, Private Land Owners, the respective Power Deparment and the private entreprenuers all over the State of Meghalaya.
While big projects tend to take long to complete, and at times get into controvercies such as cost escallation and land aquisition disputes, the small Projects initiated at grassroots level with proper revenue and grid sharing arrangements with and ‘through’ the office administration of the traditional institutions such as the office of the Syiemship, Lyngdohship, Sirdarship, Dolloiship an Nokmaship, could help the state in overcoming the current power crisis in the long term.
At the same time there is no short cut. We need to set a time frame, for achieving such goals without compromising local tribal interest.
All major industries defaulting in huge amounts of payments to MeECEL, must come forward an negotiate reasonable time schedules for regular payments of their pending electricity dues.
State Govt must move Govt of India for a one time grant package on power to settle pending power dues.
Their is no one way traffic, politically we also need, effective governance to plug leakage of Govt revenues, continuity of policies and more importantly political stability so as to initiate investment in mini power Projects, investers shy away when there is frequent instability, it requires all to co-operate else there will be a deadlock.
There is need for a through transparent discusion for ‘solutions’ to address the power senario in the state.(SP News)
