SHILLONG, Aug 1: Opposition chief whip and Trinamool Congress (TMC) legislator George B Lyngdoh has again slammed the state government over the smart metering project in Meghalaya.
Speaking to media persons here on Monday, he said Energy Efficiency Service Limited (EESL) has been implementing the project in many states under the smart metre national programme.
Lyngdoh said the Meghalaya government floated a tender for the installation of smart meters on a standalone basis at the level of MeECL, although the meters should have been checked and verified by the EESL.
“But the state government bypassed the EESL and did not sign a memorandum of understanding with them. Instead, it took a loan of Rs 232 crore from the Asian Development Bank for the smart meters project in Meghalaya,” he said.
Lamenting that it was a totally funded national programme, Lyngdoh slammed the Conrad Sangma government for implementing the scheme on its own, thus adding to the fiscal burden of the cash-strapped state.
He also pointed out that the average cost of a smart meter according to the national programme is Rs 3,500 including its installation. But in Meghalaya, the average cost for the installation of a smart meter comes to more than Rs 12,000.
Meanwhile, the Hynniewtrep Youth Council (HYC) sought clarification from Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong, who also holds the Power portfolio, on the implementation of the smart metering system in the state.
In a letter addressed to Tynsong, HYC general secretary Roy Kupar Synrem said he had told the Assembly in March that a single-phase smart meter cost Rs 3,750 while a three-phase smart meter cost Rs 5,120 excluding GST.
The government has targeted 1,80,000 households in the state for the installation of smart meters.
Citing RTI documents received on the “supply and installation of smart meters” project, Synrem said the letter of authorisation issued to the executing company also states the scope of the contract is for the “supply of smart energy meters (single and three-phase) together with meter boxes, suitable for deployment across Meghalaya”.
“The DPR that includes the MePDCL Meter Deployment Plan and the BOQs, from which the contractor took part in the bidding process, make it clear that the work is for the supply and installation of 1,97,487 single-phase and 2,513 three-phases smart meters as per requirements in the BOQ and the NITs. This is also clear from the resolution of the Board of Directors’ meeting and other documents,” he said.
Synrem said the cost of a single-phase and a three-phase smart meter, taking into account all other components, is Rs 5,889 and Rs 11,238 respectively. The total cost of the project would thus work out to Rs 119,12,42,037, he added.
“Then, on what basis has the project been allotted at Rs 232,96,39,343?” he asked.
The HYC general secretary said they would like to know about the other components of the contract that can explain the extra Rs 113.84 crore in the project.
