By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: The purchase of power from a Delhi based private firm at a rate higher than that offered by public sector undertakings by the Meghalaya Government has come under scanner as it has inflicted an additional burden to the State resulting in the present power crisis.
Sources familiar with the power trading said that while NEEPCO is charging around 80 paise per unit of power from Stage-I of the Kopili Hydro Electric Project and Rs 1. 35 from Stage-II, the Delhi based private player, Global Energy Private Ltd. is charging Rs 4.75 paise per unit from the State Government.
Even the PSUs like NTPC (Rs 3) and NHPC (Rs 2.20 paise) charge less than Global Energy.
Adding to the woes is the fact that Meghalaya has defaulted in paying back the power purchase dues to the Central PSUs including NTPC, NHPC and NEEPCO amounting to a whopping Rs 250 crore which compelled the Centre to regulate the share of power to the State.
Unhappy over the non-clearance of the dues, the Central Electricity Regulatory Commission had summoned several senior Meghalaya Government officials to Delhi seeking their response on the matter and under pressure, the State had to clear Rs 40 crore of pending dues.
Meanwhile, after the State Government failed to pay the pending amount in time, Meghalaya also lost the rebates on timely payment of dues as fixed by the Central PSUs.
Sources said that it is yet to be known whether the purchase of power from Global Energy got the nod of Meghalaya State Electricity Regulatory Commission.
The State Government is in a dilemma as with the delay in clearing the dues, the Centre has already regulated the power supply from the PSUs. This has resulted in Meghalaya not being able to get the central share of power.
Sources indicated that there can be a nexus between the Delhi based Global Energy and those
responsible for taking the decision in the State as it is illogical to pay higher rate to purchase power at a time when the Government is not able to clear the pending dues of Central sector power units.
Sources said that the CAG should intervene into the matter by carrying out a special audit as there can be a scam involved in the whole process.
During the just concluded Assembly session, the Power Minister, Clement Marak justified the power purchase from the private company by saying that Government was compelled to resort to the bilateral purchase of power to avoid any kind of load shedding especially during the winter season and during examinations.
However, despite the purchase of power from the private company, load shedding has become a reality.