SHILLONG, June 2: The state government would be overhauling the hydropower projects in the state to ensure that these projects function according to their capacities and help in augmenting the state’s power generation capacity.
The statement came from Power Minister Abu Taher Mondal at a time when there is no respite from load-shedding in the state for two months now.
He said that the machines in the Leshka project need full capital overhauling, which has not been done so far. The capital overhauling of all the other projects in the state would also be done one by one, he added.
He said two units of the Leshka project are running while the maintenance work in another unit would be completed by August. The overhauling of one of the units of the Umiam project would be completed by June.
“During this lean season, many hydropower projects in the state have failed to generate much power due to scanty rainfall,” Mondal said, insisting that the government does not want to extend the load-shedding.
“The demand for power is increasing at a higher rate than the generation. The state needs 677 million units of power on an average day but is able to produce 1-1.5 million units from its own generating units and the remaining amount of power is coming from power purchase and banking,” he said.
On being asked about the High Court of Meghalaya’s observations on load-shedding, the minister said that the court has issued some directions and the Power Department has petitioned the Meghalaya State Electricity Regulatory Commission to sell power to the consumers at a higher rate since the state is purchasing power at a higher rate.
Mondal also said that the bearings in the Umiam dam are not in good condition and orders have been issued to a company for manufacturing new ones.
Concerns have been raised about the safety of the dam time and again.
“Once the bearings are manufactured, our officers will test and bring them. By that time, we will complete the other tests,” he said.
Reacting to a query, the minister said that the government has so far not given the go-ahead to the IIT-Guwahati to conduct an audit of the bridge. “Retrofitting of the bridge will take place once the IIT is given the order to conduct the audit and they submit their report,” he added.
Mondal also said that the Umiam bridge would be closed for heavy vehicles when the retrofitting takes place.
