MeECL mulls corporate style to beat fiscal blues

SHILLONG, April 19: The MeECL may adopt a corporate character in a bid to get over its financial challenges.
Sanjay Goyal, the corporation’s managing director on Wednesday said that he believes the MeECL has to work like a professional and commercial entity to overcome the challenges it faces at different levels.
Reacting to a query on his plans to revamp the MeECL, he said the operations of the corporation have to be commercial in nature. “I tell my officers to work like professionals in a commercial company, talking about revenues, supplies, and losses,” he added.
The officers have understood the urgency, he said.
They have been told to think like businessmen who do not venture into anything that is unlikely to be profitable, Goyal said.
“We are also trying to bring in a lot of professionalism in terms of performance, record-keeping, and emergency management,” he said.
Stating that the MeECL would have to get approval from the Regulatory Authority if it wants to increase the power tariff, the MD said there is no issue with the dues of the generating units
“They are paid on time and on many occasions, before the due dates. This way, the corporation saves around 0.5% in rebate,” he said.
On the dues from consumers, he said the MeECL is working on certain directions received from Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma.
A few years ago, the state government received about Rs 1,300 crore, which was utilised to pay the central generating units.
Admitting that some disputes with consumers are in the courts and the National Company Law Tribunal, Goyal said many defaulters are not paying the bills despite the capacity to do so. The MeECL may soon decide to impose penalties and cut off the power supply to such consumers, he said.
Asking people to pay their dues to the MeECL, he said the corporation is struggling with arrears.