SHILLONG, Feb 22: The Central Electricity Regulatory Commission (CERC) has given temporary relief to the Meghalaya Power Distribution Corporation Limited (MePDCL).
The CERC asked both MePDCL and the National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) to maintain the status quo on the power purchase agreement signed on July 13, 2007, under which NTPC is claiming more than Rs 531 crore as dues from the state-owned corporation.
The status has to be maintained till the next date of hearing, the CERC said.
The commission directed the NTPC and the MePDCL to furnish month-wise details of the quantum of energy requisitioned, scheduled and dispatched from the generating station to date under the 2007 PPA. It also sought month-wise details of total amounts billed (breakup of various sub-heads and late payment charges, if any) by the NTPC to the Meghalaya discoms, according to the provisions of the PPA pertaining to Bongaigaon Thermal Power Station to date.
The commision further directed both the parties to furnish month-wise details of the corresponding total payment made by the Meghalaya discoms according to the provisions of PPA pertaining to the BTPS to date and outstanding dues along with the breakup of the principal and late payment surcharges through an affidavit to be filed by March 8.
The PPA was for the supply of power from the BTPS to the erstwhile Meghalaya State Electricity Board. The Union Ministry of Power allocated the requisition of power through a letter on October 13, 2008.
Last year, the Meghalaya Assembly had witnessed a heated debate on the matter pertaining to this PPA.
