SHILLONG: At a time when Meghalaya Energy Corporation Limited (MeECL) is bearing the brunt of power theft, the menace has been largely controlled in Jengjal in East Garo Hills thanks to the intervention of the village energy committee.
Power theft in Jengjal Bazar is almost nil due to the active vigilance of the committee, which was formed by Meghalaya Energy Corporation Limited after the failure of 100 KVA transformer earlier this year.
In a telephonic conversation, MePDCL Chief Executive Officer P.P Kar in Williamnagar said, “The people of Jengjal are actively working with the engineers of MePDCL in minimising power theft.”
The official said pilferage in the area stopped after the formation of VEC which has helped the corporation in particular and the State in general because power theft contributes to transformer failure.
Sources said besides locals, officers like Silgrak Ch Sangma, Assistant Executive Engineer of MePDCL, Bajengdoba, and Medinath S. Sangma, Executive Engineer in the East Garo Hills Distribution Division of MePDCL have also played a key role in curbing the menace.
The VECs, a novel move by MePDCL to involve locals, are formed in many villages in Jaintia Hills and West Garo Hills.