TURA, June 18 - Despite the United Democratic Party (UDP) coming down heavily on the incompetence of Meghalaya Energy Corporation Limited (MeECL) due to absence of electricity for the last couple of months at Rari village.
�This does not make sense. In this modern age how long does it take for a transformer to be transported to the village and set up? Can�t they understand the plight of school-going children at a time when education in Garo Hills is near the bottom of the country? This reeks of ignorance and incompetence,� said Anand Marak, the joint secretary of UDP.
The party members have now decided to take up the matter with the district administration and have also stated that they will seek an inquiry.
Around 40 households of the village have been without electricity for the last couple of months despite an NOC from the MeECL authorities for the replacement of the transformer.
�They were promised the new transformer on May 19 and it has been more than 20 days since then but there has been no change in the situation being faced by the villagers,� added NGH president (Youth Wing), Chensbirth Marak while also questioning the local MLA, Brigady Marak on his silence on the matter.
Interestingly when an opinion was sought from the Additional Chief Engineer (ACE) on the delay, the ACE denied even knowing the problem existed as the information was yet to reach him. He also said that once the matter was raised to him, it would join a queue of pending requests for transformer change and could take months, even years for electricity to restored going by the pathetic record of the MeECL in the state.
�We just cannot sit idle knowing that they are ruining careers through their inept handling of affairs. If required we will even file a case in the court against this incompetence. This cannot be an example of a progressive state when basis electric supply is in such tatters. The Government should haul themselves up for this and introspect,� added Anand Marak.
