Meghalaya Minister James Sangma apprises Union on current power issue in state

SHILLONG:

Meghalaya Power Minister James P K Sangma, on Wednesday, met Union Power Minister Raj Kumar Singh and apprised him of the current power issue in Meghalaya.

During the meeting, Sangma informed the Union Power Minister that the National Thermal Power Corporation of India (NTPC) had recently invoked the Letter of Credit (LC) thereby, restricting Short Term Open Access (STOA) through NERLDC resulting in the disruption of power in the state.

Sangma also informed the Union Minister that the Government of Meghalaya had already expressed its commitment to repay outstanding energy dues and late payment surcharges by availing Rs 1,345 crore from the Atma Nirbhar Bharat scheme loan and even disbursing Rs 100 crore out of the Rs 630 crore of the same to the NTPC from the first tranche.

Besides this, Sangma requested the Union Power Minister to look into the matter and to consider revoking the restrictions regarding the North Eastern Regional Load Despatch Centre (NERLDC) at the earliest.

Official sources informed that the current power crisis in the state is a culmination of years of mismanagement and missed deadlines as far as power projects are concerned.

Poorly conceptualised and poorly executed projects, including massive cost escalation, all contributed to the present scenario, sources added.

(Edited by Andre Kongri)

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