SHILLONG: Power Minister Sniawbhalang Dhar said the outstanding amount that the State has to pay to power distribution companies till October 17 is Rs 772.25 crore.
“Money should be cleared within two months and if MeECL fails to pay within 60 days, tariff rate will be increased to 1.5 per cent,” Dhar said.
The Power Finance Corporation (PFC) has agreed to provide a loan of Rs 496.33 crore to MeECL and this was backed by the Cabinet. “NEEPCO has assured that once outstanding loans are cleared they will start supplying power to MeECL,” the Minister said.
On the short circuit incident at Lyngiong, Dhar said, “On investigation, the MeECL engineers found that it is due to faulty wiring that destroyed the home. In this case, MeECL may not be able to give any compensation.”
“However, the Deputy Commissioner East Khasi Hills, will extend financial assistance from the Disaster Management fund,” he added.
There are 6,459 villages in the State of which 6,058 have got electricity under the Rajiv Gandhi Grameen Vidyutikaran Yojana and the remaining 361 villages will be covered under the Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Gram Jyoti Yojana, said the Minister.
“The process will be initiated after the State signs the tripartite agreement with the Centre and MeECL,” he added.
: A fire that started due to short circuit gutted a house in Lyngiong on Thursday, less than a month after six members of a family, including a seven-month-old infant, died from electrocution in Mawphlang.
In the meeting, the Hima Lyngiong discussed the safety of the locals.
The Hima Lyngiong also demanded compensation for the family of Kriem Jaba and her three school-going grandchildren whose residence and belongings were completely gutted due to short circuit.
A memorandum was also submitted to the Minister stating that most of the locals in the area had also complained about the wiring works, which were either damaged or melted.
