SHILLONG, May 10 � The power scenario in Meghalaya is back to normal with the State government paying Rs 30 crore and promising another Rs 60 crore in the next few months to the NEEPCO.
However, the Opposition parties have decided to conduct a study on the power scenario in the State.
For the past few days, the load shedding hours have been reduced and power supply is back to normal now. The Meghalaya Electricity Corporation Limited (MeECL), which owes Rs 379 crore to NEEPCO, has paid Rs 30 crore. The State would pay Rs 20 crore for the next three months to reduce the pending dues. The NEEPCO, on its part, restored power to the State after the payments.
The Opposition parties, however, in a meeting, have decided to set up a fact finding team to conduct a study on the power scenario and prepare a report to be made public.
The Opposition parties include the United Democratic Party (UDP), Hill State People's Democratic Party, Khun Hynniewtrep National Awakening Movement, National People's Party and BJP. The fact-finding team would be headed by UDP legislator Jemino Mawthoh and two other members.
The team would get to the bottom of the functioning of the MeECL and also some of its projects like the Myntdu-Leskha in Jaintia Hills district. The functioning of the MeECL has been a subject of constant scrutiny and debate with even Chief Minister Mukul Sangma expressing unhappiness over the state of affairs in the government-owned corporation.
The MeECL has been under severe financial debt and the State government has come to its rescue time and again. The corporation has not been able to submit its audit report to the Union Power Ministry to avail grants under the Financial Restructuring Plan.
On the other hand, the State government has decided to create a corpus for the MeECL so that the fund could be made available for its future business ventures and also to make a turn-around of its fortunes.
