From Our Special
Correspondent
NEW DELHI, Dec 14: Meghalaya, a state that was once power-surplus, may be in the throes of a power crisis, drowning in debt secured to pay off power dues, and having to resort to over 10 hours of load-shedding for the majority of the year. Nevertheless, in spite of the severe shortcomings in the power sector, the state government has cause for celebration after receiving recognition from the central government for its energy-saving initiatives.
President Droupadi Murmu on Thursday felicitated Power Minister Abu Taher Mondal on the occasion of National Energy Conservation Day after the state won the National Energy Conservation Award for conservation of power and efficiency.
Giving examples of Meghalaya and other award-winning states in different categories, the President said the awards given towards energy efficiency and conservation will inspire others. She stressed the need to create awareness for energy conservation by adopting innovative technology.
Receiving the award, Mondal said it reflects the government’s commitment to sustainable practices and energy conservation. This will further motivate the state to persist in the endeavours towards a greener and more energy-efficient future, he said.
Meghalaya has consistently spearheaded sustainable energy initiatives, recently launching a Rs 500-crore Solar Mission to ensure a sustainable power source in the state, Mondal said. Commissioning of the Rs 6.60-crore 33/11 kV, 1×2.5 MVA substation at Krang village has facilitated the seamless transfer of 2,549 households from Krang and its adjoining villages, the minister said.
“This noteworthy achievement underscores Meghalaya’s steadfast dedication to energy conservation and efficiency,” Mondal said. The state is heavily dependent on hydropower for its power procurement and hence has been generating green power, he added.
To further harness solar power, Meghalaya has planned solar parks with a capacity of 20 MW each at Suchen and Thamar. The distribution losses in MePDCL have been reduced from a staggering 25% during the 2021–2022 fiscal to 16% during 2022–2023, he pointed out.
Several measures have been taken to improve billing efficiency and the draft Energy Conservation Building Code is under consideration for implementation, the minister said.
A Demand Side Management Cell has also been established in MePDCL under the assistance of the Bureau of Energy Efficiency, New Delhi to formulate a suitable business model to adopt DSM activities, he added.
Speaking on the occasion, Union Minister of Power RK Singh said India has emerged as one of the leaders in energy transition in the world.
Sanjay Goyal, Commissioner and Secretary for Power, said the recognition is a testament to the state’s unwavering commitment to fostering a sustainable and resilient power infrastructure.
The objective is not only to meet the energy requirements of the community but also to establish a foundation for enhanced service reliability and overall progress in the region, Goyal said. Apart from this, the government notified the Meghalaya Energy Conservation Regulation 2017 intending to promote the use of BEE star-level appliances in public procurement and ban the use of incandescent lamps and inefficient magnetic-wire choke of tube lights.
The government also launched the Meghalaya Electric Vehicle Policy 2021 which envisages 15% of the state’s motor vehicles to be powered by electric battery by 2025, he said.
Meghalaya was awarded the second prize in the State Energy Efficiency Performance Award (Group 4) at the National Energy Conservation Awards (NECA) 2023 in acknowledgment of its exceptional performance in the State Energy Efficiency Index. The annual NECA recognizes commendable efforts in energy conservation spanning various sectors of the economy.