Load-shedding likely to continue till monsoon

SHILLONG, March 30: The state’s crippled power sector is set to further trouble citizens with the Meghalaya Power Distribution Corporation Limited (MePDCL) likely to continue with the ongoing load-shedding till the advent of the monsoon.
Speaking to a section of the media, a senior official of the Power department said that the MePDCL will have to resort to load-shedding due to low level of water in the Umiam reservoir.
The official said that the shutdown of one unit of the ONGC Tripura Power Company has also reduced the share of power from the central generating station.
“The load-shedding is likely to be continued till the water level improves. We will have to wait for the monsoon to lift the load-shedding,” he said.
According to the official, power cuts are being enforced only during the night hours to ensure minimum inconvenience to the consumers.
Stating that the MePDCL is forced to resort to load-shedding in the middle of March every year, he said that they manage to delay the load-shedding this year since the state witnessed a spell of rainfall for a few days.
“We are resorting to load-shedding now only at the fag end of March,” he said.
He further said that the MeECL has been able to clear the dues of NEEPCO and other power generating companies.
Earlier, Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma had justified the ongoing spell of load-shedding in the state, saying that it was necessary due to the gap between the demand and supply of power.
Stating that the situation is better this year, he pointed out that there was no load-shedding in February-March.
Admitting that there is still a large gap and some power regulation is required, Sangma said the government is trying to minimise the inconvenience caused to the public.
The CM said that during his recent visit to Delhi, he had held a series of meetings with different agencies and even the Union Power Minister to discuss the issues being faced by the MeECL.
“We need to engage the Centre, their agencies and companies like NTPC and PDFC to figure out how to resolve the pending issues and improve the financial health of the MeECL,” he said.