SHILLONG, April 5 � Meghalaya Government has approved the proposal for installation of �pre-paid-metering-system� (PPMS) in the State aiming at realising the revenue on a concurrent basis.
�The State Cabinet has approved the proposal for the implementation of the PPMS by the Meghalaya Energy Corporation Limited (MeECL) in the State,� official sources told reporters here recently.
The sources said, the State Government had earlier provided financial support to the MeECL to start the installation of the PPMS for realising of revenue collection on a concurrent basis.
�The special programme of the PPMS is being implemented by the Meghalaya Power Distribution Corporation Limited (MPDCL), one of the entity of the MeECL, which have done due diligence based on technology,� they said.
According to the sources, the exercise is to ensure that the MPDCL improves its revenue collection as well as ensuring that customers are not subjected to the problem of accumulated electricity bills.
They also informed that MeECL has also proposed to the State Government to notify that all departments of the government must resort to the installation of PPMS for all energy consumption purposes.
�Therefore, the government has directed that all buildings of the government departments should start installing the pre-paid metering system henceforth,� the sources said.
Meanwhile, the State Government further suggested the MeECL to conduct aggressive awareness programme for encouraging consumers to adopt franchise model of realising payment of energy bills by installing the PPMS.
According to him, the effective implementation of the programme wholly depends on the complete cooperation, participation and involvement of the consumers.
Further, the State Cabinet has also approved the proposal of the State Health department for making it mandatory for all Nursing Homes in Meghalaya to have proper license and registration as mandated in the Meghalaya Nursing Home Licensing/Registration Rule.
The Cabinet also approved releasing financial assistance of Rs 6 crore-Rs 7 crore approximately by providing agricultural inputs and subsidy to farmers of the four districts, whose agricultural land have been affected by �drought�.
�The Cabinet has decided to release agricultural inputs and subsidy to farmers who are affected by drought in four districts as per reports,� the sources said.
As per reports, last year during June, drought had affected certain areas of the four districts � East Khasi Hills, West Garo Hills, East Garo Hills and South West Garo Hills, he said.
�A total of 13,606.55 hectare of agricultural land has been affected in which in the three districts including East Garo Hills, West Garo Hills and South West Garo Hills, damage to crops has been reported. However, in East Khasi Hills, the damage of crop is nil,� he said.
The government has estimated around Rs 6-7 crore to be released to the affected farmers as per the guidelines of the Disaster Relief Fund sanctioned for 2014-15.
�It was also instructed that the amount will be released directly in the bank accounts of the farmers,� he informed while also adding that funds will be released depending upon the area affected by the drought.
The Cabinet has also approved the proposed amendment of the Meghalaya Soil and Conservation Service Rule for filling up of the vacancy to enable the department to draw officers from engineering background. � PTI
