SHILLONG, APRIL 12: Meghalaya power minister Clement Marak told the Assembly on Friday that the state government has to pay an outstanding amount of Rs 244.48 crore to Neepco, and the dues must be cleared in 24 installments.
Marak also said that the total power purchase bill of the department is about Rs 28 crore per month, and the cumulative bill paid from 2001– 2002 till now was around Rs 1950 crore.
UDP legislator Paul Lyngdoh expressed shock over the staggering power dues of the government and said the state could face severe shortage of power in the future if it fails to make timely payment to the power supplier.
Agreeing with Lyngdoh, chief minister Mukul Sangma said timely payment will ensure that the state gets access to cheaper power besides bringing down the loses. “Therefore, there is a need to increase investment including up-scaling the distribution wherein government have asked MeECL to submit a proposal in this regard,” he added, while admitting that steps need to be taken to improve the efficiency of the MeECL for which the government was ready to render all the required support.
The chief minister had to repeatedly come to the rescue of his power minister who fulminated with his replies during the discussion.
When Lyngdoh wanted to know if it was a fact that the government was paying at least double the amount to purchase power from the private suppliers, Marak again failed to give a satisfactory response, forcing Sangma to intervene. The chief minister said there were instances of private power suppliers making profit, but generally no power companies can do so as the rate is fixed by the power regulatory body.
Sangma said government has to purchase power from the private sector in addition to the state’s own generation and central share in order to ensure there was no power disruption during examinations and other times, but the rate at which power is being purchased was substantially low. (By Our Reporter)
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