MePDCL resumes power distribution in Mawsynram Civil Sub-division as ‘privatisation experiment’ fails
SHILLONG, June 10: Buckling under sustained local pressure and a breakdown in administrative deadlines, the state government has unceremoniously ousted SAI Computers from Mawsynram, effectively ending a contentious privatisation attempt that saw public offices torched and political tempers flare.
Power Minister Metbah Lyngdoh announced Wednesday that the Meghalaya Energy Corporation Limited (MeECL) has cancelled the contract awarded to the private firm. The Meghalaya Power Distribution Corporation Limited (MePDCL) has resumed direct control over electricity supply and management in the subdivision with immediate effect.
The official exit is grounded in a legal technicality. According to an order by the Director (Distribution), MePDCL, the firm failed to execute the Distribution Franchisee Agreement or fulfill required conditions within the stipulated six-month period following the Letter of Award issued on November 10, 2025.
However, the administrative collapse follows a period of intense social and political unrest. The Power Minister dismissed suggestions that the cancellation was a reaction to the recent torching of the company’s office, claiming the matter had been under consideration for some time. Lyngdoh stated the government moved cautiously to ensure the decision was legally sound, as the transition remains under judicial scrutiny.
The “privatisation experiment” faced significant pushback from local representatives, including Mawsynram MLA Ollan Singh Suin and VPP leader Ardent M Basaiawmoit. Critics of the franchisee model argued that an “outsider” firm lacked the accountability required to serve the region.
Welcoming the move, Suin said the return to state-led management would better address consumer concerns and improve service efficiency. While MePDCL has retaken the reins, questions remain among local consumers regarding the status of smart meters already installed by the private firm during its tenure.
The cancellation currently applies only to the Mawsynram subdivision, leaving the franchisee model intact in other operational areas for now. Nonetheless, the retreat marks a significant policy U-turn for a government struggling to reform the state’s power sector in the face of local resistance.
