SHILLONG, April 29: The Centre has approved an amount of over Rs 1,100 crore under the Revamped Distribution Service System (RDSS) scheme to revamp the power distribution system in Meghalaya, Deputy Chief Minister in-charge of Power, Prestone Tynsong said on Friday.
Tynsong, who had met Union Power Minister RK Singh in New Delhi on Thursday, said that the funds to be made available under the RDSS will be utilised to install smart meters and additional transformers in various places of the state.
The scheme is also meant for extension to low transmission and domestic lines, Tynsong said.
“We are looking to streamline the supply of power in each and every village through the RDSS scheme. It will be a blessing for the people of the state,” he said, arguing that installation of smart meters would improve the billing system since meter readers were finding it difficult to visit every house every month to prepare the bill.
Informing that the consumers can use either prepaid or postpaid smart meters, Tynsong said initially the state government will get sanction for installing smart meters in 4.60 lakh households. “The target to complete the installation of smart meters in the next one-and-half years,” he said.
On the transmission front, Tynsong said the state has proposed an amount of Rs 650-700 crore for installation of substations.
In addition, the Union Power Minister has assured to release the outstanding dues accrued to MeECL amounting to Rs 192 crore, Tynsong added.