By Our Reporter
Shillong: Just three months after Stage I of the Myntdu Leshka Hydro Electric Project (MLHEP) was commissioned, the first unit has broken down due to a technical snag, Chief Project Manager Elias Lyngdoh informed on Wednesday, adding that the problem occurred due to breakdown of a thrust which is an essential component for power generation.
Reacting to a query, the official stated that such problems are a common phenomenon in the initial stages of a project since all the mechanical parts function have to function in unison and they have to bear heavy pressure from all the machineries that function together.
Lyngdoh, further, informed that the first year of any project is considered as ‘Defect Liability period’ aimed at finding out faults and other problems that might occur in the project.
“It is a period where we find out whether there is any defect in any component of the project and then we ask the concerned company to replace the machineries if there are any faults with it. This is a common phenomenon in all power projects,” he added.
The Chief Project Manager however, stated that the problem would be rectified by next week.
With the break down in power generation from the project, the power-starved State set to witness a severe shortage in supply.
The project has already been criticized owing to repeated delays in its commissioning leading to a huge cost escalation from the earlier proposed Rs 363.08 crore to Rs 1173.13 crore.
It may be mentioned that the second unit of the project has started functioning and the third unit is expected to be commissioned in September this year.
Meanwhile, certain sources have informed that both units of the project have stopped working, but the same could not be verified. The first unit of the project had been inaugurated by Chief Minister Dr Mukul Sangma on March 1.
The project is being executed by the Meghalaya Energy Corporation Limited (MeECL).