By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, Dec 26: Shillong is adorned with lights, to embrace the title of the Christmas capital of the Northeast.
The festive ambiance, highlighted by Christmas celebrations, has covered the city and the state in a joyous spirit.
Despite the city’s festive charm, several citizens have expressed concerns about the dearth of power and the upcoming load-shedding season.
This year, in addition to decorating the Khyndailad stretch, the government has adorned significant locations in Shillong, creating a festive atmosphere throughout the city.
The illuminated settings have attracted tourists, capturing the attention of those spending their Christmas vacations here.
While visitors joyfully take pictures under the shimmering décor, residents ponder whether this increased power usage will lead to more load-shedding in the coming months.
Tourists, including a group from Delhi, appreciating the festive atmosphere, were grateful for choosing Meghalaya for their Christmas getaway.
One of them stated, “Last time we were here during August and it was raining, but this time, the winter chills mixed with the festive vibes, it is beautiful. We walked around the entire city, admiring the shimmers”, also excitedly adding that the city that is closed by 9 pm is now awake till midnight leaving them room to do more things.
These feelings however didn’t echo with the residents of Shillong.
Liang Marak, a student, humorously remarked that he wishes for a steady power supply in the upcoming months, emphasising the need for the government to implement proper plans to prevent inconvenience to the local population.
Stating that he is not against the city going all out on Christmas, he added that the government should put proper plans in place, to make sure the people who stay here also don’t suffer.
Earlier, Sanjay Goyal, the Chairman-cum-Managing Director of MEECL, had assured uninterrupted power supply during the festive season, but citizens on social media are marred by concerns about the anticipated load-shedding in the months following.
Amid the influx of tourists capturing the city’s lights and decorated Christmas trees, there is a shared sentiment among residents for a more reliable power supply.
While some appreciate the effort as a tourist attraction, others emphasize the need for continuous, uninterrupted power supply throughout the year.
A festival-goer suggests that though it’s the holiday season, the government should ensure a consistent power supply, especially during exam periods.
Citizens on social media also shared their concerns about the infamous load-shedding that usually starts from around February to March.
However, another person, who was in the Laitumkhrah stretch with his entire family, had a different opinion, stating that it is a method to attract tourists; otherwise, the state will continue to remain poor.
“We cannot complain about everything, we want to be economically stable but we complain when the government is doing things to attract tourist inflow which is a major contributor to the state revenue, we have a problem.”