By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, March 10: The Voice of the People Party (VPP) on Monday questioned the state government over the delay in upgrading the Rs 49.8-crore Mawlai sub-station project from 3×20 MVA to 350 MVA under the NESIDS-OTRI scheme by the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER). The party also urged the government to expedite the process.
Notably, the Mawlai sub-station is one of Shillong’s most critical power stations, serving 60% of the city’s consumers. The sub-station, constructed in 1964, is now long overdue for an upgrade.
In response to a query from VPP MLA Brightstarwell Marbaniang, Power Minister AT Mondal informed the House that the revised project cost of Rs 279.23 crore was approved by the DoNER Ministry on January 16, 2025. However, due to cost escalation, the central share remains limited to the originally approved Rs 49.8 crore, while the additional Rs 29.43 crore must be borne by the state government. He further stated that the Meghalaya Power Transmission Corporation Limited (MePTCL) has initiated the implementation process.
When asked about the reasons for the delay, Mondal cited multiple factors, including the cancellation of the original tender for non-compliance with NEC guidelines set by the DoNER Ministry.
He explained that although the project was sanctioned on March 8, 2019, the Model Code of Conduct was imposed the next day, delaying the process until May 2019. Subsequently, the COVID-19 outbreak and lockdowns further stalled the project.
Additionally, Mondal revealed that the Detailed Project Report (DPR) had to be revised twice to keep costs within the original budget, but the DoNER Ministry did not approve it. Finally, a revised DPR with a cost of Rs 79.23 crore was submitted in February 2024, and it took almost a year to secure clearance from the Ministry.
He noted that deliberations and discussions with various central ministries, including the Power Ministry, DoNER Ministry, NITI Aayog, and the Central Electricity Authority, further contributed to the delay.
Raising another supplementary question, Marbaniang pointed out that the state stands to lose due to the increased financial burden of Rs 29.43 crore. He also inquired whether work had begun.
In response, Mondal informed the House that detailed tender documents are ready, and the tender will be floated in April this year.
Marbaniang urged the minister to accelerate the project and ensure that local contractors and suppliers are given preference during implementation. In reply, Mondal assured that efforts will be made to complete the project as early as possible.
Regarding awarding contracts to local contractors, Mondal stated that eligibility will depend on whether they meet the criteria specified in the tender documents.