Cabinet’s nod to prepaid electricity meters

A Correspondent

Shillong, February 4: Residents of the state will soon be able to regulate their energy consumption just like pre–paid cellphone connections after installing pre–paid meters in their houses.

The cabinet today approved the proposal of the Meghalaya Energy Corporation Limited (MeECL) to install pre–paid meters in households and government departments.

According to Chief Minister, Dr Mukul Sangma, the new system will check revenue loss for the cash–starved MeECL.

“The State government provided fincial support to the MeECL to encourage people to install pre–paid meters to increase the revenue realisation,” Dr Sangma told reporters after the cabinet meet today.

The MeECL, which is a holding company, has entrusted the Meghalaya Power Distribution Corporation Limited (MePDCL), one of its entities, to implement the prepaid metering system.

The Chief Minister also informed that the MePDCL did due diligence based on the available technology for the prepaid meter system.

Dr Sangma also informed that that all State government departments should resort to the pre–paid metering system.

Meanwhile, the Cabinet also decided to provide agricultural input subsidy for farmers of the State affected by drought last year.

Deputy Chief Minister in–charge revenue and disaster magement, Prof RC Laloo informed that agricultural area of 13606.55 hectares were affected by drought.

“The amount sanctioned is as per the provision of the state disaster relief fund,” Prof Laloo informed reporters after the cabinet meeting.

The Deputy Chief Minister informed that the agricultural input subsidy will come to around Rs 6 to Rs 7 crore.

According to Prof Laloo the subsidy to each farmer will depend on the area and damage to the crops.

“The amount will be released in the farmer’s bank account,” Prof Laloo informed.

Further, the cabinet has also approved the Meghalaya Nursing Home Licencing and Registration Rule, 2015.

According to this rule, anyone interested in opening a nursing home will have to obtain license.