By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: In a bid to improve power scenario in the State, the Centre has decided to allocate an additional 25 MW of power from October this year.
Announcing this here on Monday, the Union Power Minister M Veerappa Moily said, “We have decided to allocate additional power from the Central share of power from October to ensure uninterrupted power supply in the State.”
Moily was speaking to reporters after holding a review meeting with Chief Minister Dr Mukul Sangma and other senior government officials at North Eastern Council (NEC) office.
“25 MW will be provided so as to make students not to suffer during the winter (as they prepare for their exams) due to load shedding,” he said.
The Union Minister said Meghalaya was also expected to gain from the Palatana power project in Tripura which was expected to be synchronized within October.
Impressed by the reforms in power sector initiated by the State government, Moily said, “I can proudly say that Meghalaya is one of the progressive states in terms of power reforms”.
Meanwhile, expressing concern over prevailing power scenario in the State, Dr Sangma said as per the assessment carried out there would be a gap between the availability of power and the actual requirement. He projected the actual requirement between 160 to 180 mega watts besides pressing for additional allocation of Central share of power to the State.
Welcoming Moily’s announcement, the Chief Minister said, “This would help in avoiding a situation where the government has to resort to load shedding. We are looking for the option of bilateral purchase of power to meet demand”.
He said the Government was trying to give power connections to all villages and every household in the State as per the promises made by the UPA Government under RGVVY programme.