Meghalaya Power Outage: Darkness descends across the state due to fund crunch to buy power

SHILLONG: Meghalaya from today will experince power outage, as Meghalaya Power Distribution Corporation Limited (MePDCL) decided to impose load-shedding its consumers across the state on a rotational basis due to the low water level of Umiam reservoir and regulations of Power Grid Corporation of India Limited (PGCIL).

 

Meghalaya is power deficient by at least 70 megawatts (MW) and to offset this deficit, the State power corporation has been purchasing power from the Central power corporations.

 

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MeECL owes Rs 74.65 crore to PGCIL for transmission charges are not in a position to pay because of the extreme financial condition of the Corporation, they barely afford the salaries of its employees. They have also requested the state government to extend Rs 113.47 crore financial assistance pay off this debt of PGCIL.

 

Hence due to failure to make payments, PGCIL had issued a regulation notice and also wanted a firm commitment on payment of 50% of the dues in one week and definite timeline for the remaining 50%.

Following the above, with no other option, MeECL is reluctantly compelled to resort to loadshedding with effect from today midnight.

 

Area to be effected as per the tentative schedule:

 

A) 00:00 hrs - 03:00 hrs (Shillong and Khasi)

B) 03:00 hrs - 06:00 hrs (Garo Hills)

C) 06:00 hrs - 09:00 hrs (Jaintia Hills and Ri Bhoi)

D) 09:00 hrs - 12:00 hrs (Shillong and Khasi Hills)

E) 12:00 hrs - 15:00 hrs (Garo Hills)

F) 15:00 hrs - 18:00 hrs (Jaintia Hills and Ri Bhoi)

G) 19:00 hrs - 20:00 hrs (Shillong and Khasi Hills)

H) 20:00 hrs - 21:00 hrs (Garo Hills RS Jaintia Hills and Ri Bhoi)

 

However, efforts are being earnestly made to find an early solution.