Whopping Rs 20 crore due; MeECL warns cement firm

SHILLONG, Jan 14: A whopping Rs 20.66 crore of outstanding power bills of a cement company in East Jaintia Hills has prompted the Meghalaya Energy Corporation Limited (MeECL) to issue a warning to the company of disconnecting power to the corporation if it fails to make the payment.
Even the High Court of Meghalaya had intervened in the matter directing the firm, JUD Cement Private Limited, to comply.
In a letter issued on Thursday, Director (Distribution) of the Meghalaya Power Distribution Corporation Limited (MePDCL), M Shangpliang, directed the cement company to make payment against the outstanding amount. The letter warned that the power will be disconnected within 15 days from the date of the issue of the letter, if the company fails to make the payment.
According to the MePDCL letter, the cement company has dues worth Rs 19.21 crore as on date exclusive of the dues pertaining to the month of December 2022.
The company has paid Rs 1.45 crore towards the current outstanding amount for October, 2022, amounting to Rs 1.56 crore.
“There is a short payment of Rs 11.56 lakh. The payment towards the outstanding amount mentioned in schedule as directed by the High Court of Meghalaya has also not been made by the company till date. The act on your part is in gross violation and in contempt of the order of the High Court,” the letter said.