Power Minister expresses concern over pending electricity dues

FROM STAFF CORRESPONDENT

SHILLONG, March 17: Meghalaya Power Minister Clement Marak today said that clearance of electricity dues is crucial for the Meghalaya Energy Corporation Limited (MECL) to carry out repair and restoration of damaged transformers in the state.

The Minister was answering to a question raised by the Leader of the Opposition (LO) Dr Donkupar Roy.

“Yes there are failures of transformers. However, the restoration work suffers because the consumers do not even pay the electricity bills”, stated Marak.

Replying to a supplementary question raised by Dr Roy as to why those who are ready to pay the dues are pelized, the minister said, “ There are three villages who have even been given a relaxation to clear the outstanding bills in 10 installments and not as per the four installments laid down but nothing has happened.”

The Minister spoke upon the need to create an awareness amongst the rural folks to clear the electricity bills to make the supply more effective.

Regarding the blackout in Kalatek and Dali areas located in the fringes of the Indo- Bangladesh Border, Marak said, “It has happened due to change of course of the river Umiam Mawphlang in 2010 and washing away of the distribution transformer and migration of the people to new location.”  He also said that a proposal to lay down the 1.9 Km of new KV line, 1.5 of LT line and 1 new 63 KVA transformer at an estimated cost of Rs 25. 15 lakhs have been included in the detailed Project report under the Deen Dayal Upadhya Gram Jyoti Yoj and it has been submitted to the Ministry of power.