By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: NPP legislator James K Sangma on Tuesday suggested the constitution of a House Committee to study in details the various flaws which has resulted in the poor performance of the Meghalaya Energy Corporation Limited (MeECL).
“The House Committee can identify the problems which is affecting the performance of the MeECL. We can also come up with recommendations on how to improve the functioning of the Corporation,” Sangma said while moving a cut motion in the Assembly on Tuesday.
He expressed happiness over the commitment of Chief Minister Dr Mukul Sangma to revamp the MeECL.
The NPP leader stated that the MeECL was in disarray due to flaws in its organizational structure.
“The Corporation is suffering shortage of manpower at the lower level while at the same time the department is overcrowded at the top level with so many chief engineers and additional chief engineers,” Sangma said.
He said that the MeECL needs to be restructured by recruiting more junior engineers and linemen to supervise and monitor power generation.
Sangma also suggested that the Government should come up with micro and mini hydel projects for improving the power scenario in the State.
The NPP legislator expressed concern over the delay in commissioning of the Agia-Nangalbibra transmission line which would have helped to improve the power scenario in Garo Hills.
Replying to the cut motion, Sports and Youth Affairs Minister Zenith M Sangma said that he appreciates the concern of the legislator on the need to revamp the MeECL.
“I would like to assure that the Government would take appropriate steps to improve the performance of the MeECL,” Sangma said.
He also assured that the Government would come up with more micro and mini hydel projects to improve the power scenario in the State.
On the status of the Agia-Nangalbibra line, Assembly Speaker AT Mondal, who was the former Power Minister, said that the person who had opposed the passing of the transmission line over his land had moved the matter to court.
“The matter is still pending in the court. It is because of this that the project is still hanging fire,” Mondal said, while also informing that the concerned person had demanded land compensation of Rs 79 lakh which was unreasonable.
Meanwhile, Zenith Sangma informed that the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy has sanctioned a total amount of Rs 2.40 crore for installation of 100 kWp Solar Photovoltaic (SPV) Power Plant at the Legislative Assembly under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Solar Mission (JNNSM).
According to Sangma, the JNNSM is aimed at development and deployment of solar energy technologies in the country to achieve parity grid power tariff by 2022 and deployment of 20,000 MW of solar energy for power generation.
“The Ministry has also sanctioned another Rs 2.70 crore for installation of 100 kWp SPV power plant at the Meghalaya Secretariat. Further, an amount of Rs 8.94 crore was sanctioned for installation of SPV Power Plants in the seven offices of Deputy Commissioners of the old districts,” he informed.
The Minister also informed that an amount of Rs 1.22 crore had been sanctioned for installation of 50 KW SPV power plants in the English and Foreign Languages University campus in Shillong.
The Minister attributed the power crisis in the State to acute shortage of power.
“Presently, the State power utility is having a tough challenge ahead in terms of capacity addition to bridge this gap. As on date, the unrestricted peak demand of the State is 610 MW.
There has been an addition of 126 MW from the Myntdu Leshka Hydro Electric Power Project and 2 MW from renovation modernization and up gradation of Umiam Stage II power, Sangma said.
At present, the generating capacity of the State is 3174.70 MW, the Minister said, adding that existing availability in the State is 524 MW.7 MW including 210 MW from the Central share.
“Therefore, the power deficit in the State is 100 MW. If the Palatana thermal power project in Tripura is commissioned within June 2013 as scheduled, the share of power to the State through this source would be 20 MW which will reduce the demand gap by 20 MW,” he said.