Power partially restored in NEHU
SHILLONG: The power-crisis in the North Eastern Hill University (NEHU) was partially restored late Saturday evening with the connection of two power-lines, each bearing a load of 1MVA.
This was possible because of the intervention of the Meghalaya Energy Corporation Ltd (MeECL).
The newly-purchased transformer which had earlier developed technical snag on Wednesday was also repaired by the Guwahati-based company from where it was purchased.
Disclosing this here on Sunday, NEHU Vice Chancellor Prof AN Rai said that the defected 1MVA transformer which was recently purchased after NEHU had plunged into darkness last week, arrived from the workshop on Saturday morning and shortly by 9 pm, power was connected, lighting at least half the campus.
The second power line was connected by the MeECL on Sunday and after charging, power was restored on Sunday evening, covering the second half of the unlighted campus.
“With the installation of this 1MVA transformer, residences and four girls’ hostels were lighted on Saturday evening while departments and the remaining hostels were lighted up on Sunday evening with the power-connection given by MeECL”, the NEHU VC informed.
Prof Rai also stated that both lines are fully functional now and the whole campus is lighted up except for the street lights which were switched off for the night, to stabilize the power lines.
100 per cent of power supply will be restored by Monday, the VC informed.
The premier Central University of the region had plunged into darkness last Sunday afternoon due to the collapse of the 3 MVA transformer which NEHU maintenance staff and engineers claimed was hit by lightning.
Senior University faculty have questioned the poor maintenance system and staff in NEHU and wonder whether the chain of command even works.
“There does not seem to be any accountability among the engineering staff,” the faculty said.
They also questioned how the transformer that had gone bust since November last year was lying un-repaired ostensibly because there was no response to the tender floated by NEHU.
All this points to a slack administration they observed.
