‘CM should hold meet to discuss power issues’

SHILLONG, May 17: United Democratic Party (UDP) president, Metbah Lyngdoh, on Monday said that it is the chief minister’s wisdom to convoke a meeting of the coordination committee to confer about the issues pertaining to the Power department. The statement from Metbah comes at a time when several political parties have been opposing tooth and nail MeECL’s move to outsource the operation and maintenance of 56 sub-stations to Broadcasting Engineering Consultants Corporation India Limited (BECIL).
Admitting that he has written a letter to Chief Minister Conrad Sangma and expressed party’s concern over the alleged irregularities in the MeECL, Metbah said that his party has sought the immediate intervention of the chief minister into the matter.
Upgrade of sub-station
The GSU, Mindikgre unit, has urged the state government to upgrade the MePDCL Substation at Baghmara into a full-fledged divisional office.
In a memorandum to Chief Minister Conrad Sangma, president of the GSU, Mindikgre unit, Greneth M Sangma, said that the Sub Divisional Office, which was set up in 1992 with a skeletal structure, has seen no improvement till date, be it in infrastructure or manpower.
“The South Garo Hills Sub-Division is still run by one SDO and a skeletal staff of eight linemen, three for emergency duty and five posted for outside duty. In addition, the emergency staff have no vehicle to attend to any emergency duty elsewhere in the district and this has aggravated the problem,” Greneth said.
He pointed out that due to the dearth of manpower and absence of vehicle, villages have to remain without power for days if power supply is disrupted.
Suggesting a remedy, Greneth requested the chief minister to appoint at least one lineman for emergency duty at Mindikgre, Erengre, Emangre, Kharukol and Panda as well as in other strategic locations to cater to the power needs of the villagers.