MeECL owes NEEPCO Rs 441 cr power dues

SHILLONG: In what can be termed as a sorry state of financial mismanagement, the Meghalaya government has an outstanding due of more than 440 crore rupees to NEEPCO, which if not cleared soon, may force NEEPCO to regulate power supply to the State.
NEEPCO officials informed that the State government has unpaid dues of around Rs 300 crore and surcharge amount of around Rs 141 crore.
According to the officials, NEEPCO had even agreed to waive 60 per cent of the surcharge amount as per the request of the chief minister on the condition that Meghalaya Energy Corporation Limited (MeECL) will pay the dues in three installments, which however did not happen.
Now since the State government has not fulfilled the commitment, NEEPCO is now forced to withdraw the waiver.
Last year, MeECL had cleared some dues in installments of Rs 10 crore and Rs 15 crore.
At present, NEEPCO provides around 151 MW of power to Meghalaya and incase of failure on the part of the State government to pay the amount within this month, NEEPCO may regulate power supply to Meghalaya from April 1, 2016.
It is learnt that Assam and Arunachal Pradesh have already taken advantage of the one-time settlement   system to avail the waive amount offered by NEEPCO.
Sources also said that NEEPCO is keen to withdraw the power regulation to Meghalaya even if Meghalaya government pays one installment for the outstanding due.
It is learnt that NEEPCO’s financial condition is not satisfactory and the Corporation is in urgent need of finance to sustain itself in the region.