CM for promoting use of green and renewable energy

FROM A CORRESPONDENT

SHILLONG, Oct 21: Meghalaya Chief Minister Dr Mukul Sangma today said the problem of load shedding owing to low water levels at the hydro-electric reservoirs should act as a catalyst to promote the use of green and renewable energy.

“This disadvantageous position should be utilised to teach the people to use environmental friendly sources of energy and ease the pressure from conventiol sources,” said Sangma, adding, “students should become ambassadors to convince the community to conserve energy and also for using other sources of energy.”

The Chief Minister informed that the Meghalaya government has been giving solar lamps to students of class IX and X so that they can use while studying. The State has been distributing LED Solar Lanterns to students of different schools under “Mission Green- Youth for Energy Conservation” of the government.

According to the Chief Minister, the state government is planning to “scale up” the project and will urge the Government of India to necessary contribution for their endeavour.

The Chief Minister also said that his government is encouraging the use of bamboo pellets and bio-mass especially in the villages to generate their sources of energy. On the current crisis in the state wherein the Meghalaya Power Distribution Corporation Limited (MePDCL) is resorting to load-shedding, the Chief Minister said that since the region especially Meghalaya is heavily dependent on hydro energy the situation has become acute.

Dr Sangma also said that resorting to power purchase has its own ramification vis-à-vis pressure on the exchequer. “We have had experience of having to pay more than to realize from the sale of power because of substantial loss in distribution and transmission,” he said.

It may be informed the state government is contemplating to take loan from fincial institutions to clear the debt of Meghalaya Energy Corporation Limited (MeECL). The total amount pending to different utilities is Rs 457.97 crore.