SHILLONG, July 29 � With 30 per cent deficit rainfall, Meghalaya is headed for loadshedding if the Rain Gods does not shower its benevolence in the coming days.
Although there has been no power disruption in the State so far, the water level in the main reservoir at Umiam has dipped to 3175 feet, which is 24 feet below last year�s July water level.
The hydel plant has an installed capacity of 186 MW. �The plant is functioning at half its installed capacity due to shortage of rainfall,� Principal Secretary (Power), BK Dev Burman said here today.
He, however, informed that there has been good rainfall in the southern slopes of the State and therefore the 126 MW Leiska-Myntdu plant in Jaintia Hills has been the saving grace uptil now.
The project, which has been constructed by the MeCL came under severe criticism earlier this year for failing the expectations of the people with frequent malfunction of the power plant.
�The power plant is functioning up to its optimal limit and we are receiving 126 MW of electricity from the project, otherwise we would have resorted to loadshedding by now. We have a 30 per cent deficit in rainfall and if it does not rain, then we have to see,� Burman said.
Meghalaya�s total power demand is 667 MW, but the State is able to generate just 450 MW of electricity and therefore there is power shortage and the Government through the MeCL purchases power. A few power projects are in the pipeline, but nothing major is planned for the next few years.
Meanwhile, the temperature has been soaring over the past few weeks in the State capital and the rainfall has been scanty and erratic.
�We had early Monsoon this year and we hoped that it would be normal, but so far it has been otherwise. We are hoping for a late Monsoon,� Burman said.