By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, Sep 24: Former Meghalaya Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) chief and Umsning MLA, Celestine Lyngdoh has compared the financial health of MeECL to “cancer” and made it clear that the state government has to take an urgent call for the complete overhaul of the corporation to get rid of its affliction.
“If you look at the health of MeECL it is like a family having a cancer patient. If the family is poor they will be selling their land to pay for the treatment. First they will sell some land for the treatment and if it is insufficient, more land will be sold for the treatment and if illness drags on, the patient will die and the family’s wealth will be finished off,” he said.
“In the same way, MeECL is being provided with crores and crores of rupees by the state government but it continues to bleed. I feel that the time has come where the government should say enough is enough and go for a complete overhaul of the sick corporation.”
Asked if the efforts of the state government to revive MeECL is too little too late, he said, “The efforts by the government are neither too little nor too late. The real question is about the efficiency and ability of the people who run the show in the MeECL.”
“So, irrespective of how much money is being pumped into the MeECL we are never be able to see tangible results that MeECL will return back as a viable entity,” he added.
It is to be noted that Meghalaya is facing its longest streak of load-shedding since February-March.
Citizenshad faced up to 10-12 hours of load-shedding which has now come down to 2-3 hours.
MeECL which often falls short of the annual revenue requirement target of the regulatory commission, has been purchasing power from distribution companies at a higher rate and supplying it to the consumers in the state at a low rate, further compounding its problems.