SHILLONG: The State Government has failed to pay outstanding dues of nearly Rs 450 crore to as many as 10 power companies, both in private and public sector.
While the dues of North Eastern Electric Power Corporation (NEEPCO) is Rs 358.89 crore, the State has to pay Rs 29. 55 crore to Powergrid.
Besides the public sector units, the State Government also engaged in power trading with private companies and the dues have been pending for too long despite the Government’s assertions that the fiscal health of the State is satisfactory.
“We have to clear the dues of NEEPCO which come to Rs 385.89 crore and the total outstanding amount for the state to pay to the power companies is Rs 449.93 crore”, Power Minister Clement Marak said.
During the load shedding last year, the State Government had paid some of the pending dues to NEEPCO and was hoping to clear more but the outstanding amount has only increased since then and stand at Rs 358 crore from Rs 244 crore in 2013.
The State was availing 33 MW of power from NEEPCO and as per the agreement the dues were to be paid in monthly installments of Rs 11 crore.
The current load shedding was inevitable since NEEPCO had stopped supplying power to Meghalaya due to its inability to clear the dues.
Marak informed that the State Government has written to the Union Government to assist the state in clearing the dues. Another option for the State is to get a loan from the State Bank of India (SBI) and clear the outstanding amount.
“We are working on it,” he said.
POWER DUES WITH POWER COMPANIES
North Eastern Electric Power Corporation (NEEPCO): Rs 358
National Hydro electric Power Corporation (NHPC): 19.67 crore
National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC): Rs 15.49 crore
Powergrid: Rs 29.55 crore
United Illuminating Company (UI): Rs 0.83 crore
Malavalli Power Plant Private Limited (MPPPL): Rs 1.32 crore
NTPC Vidyut Vyapar Nigam (NVVN): Rs 1.97 crore
Global Energy Private Limited: Rs 7.5 crore
Power System Operation Corporation (POSOCO): Rs 0.11 crore
Assam State Electricity Electricity (transportation charge): Rs 14.6 crore
Total pending due to be cleared : Rs 449. 93 crore
