SHILLONG, MAY 8: Concern over the frequent load shedding in the state, opposition on Thursday constituted a “Fact-Finding-Team” (FFT) to conduct an in-depth-study and prepare a report on the power scenario in Meghalaya. The decision was taken at an all political parties meeting held on Thursday at Shillong Club.
Leaders from five political parties – United Democratic Party (UDP), Hill State People’s Democratic Party (HSPDP), Khun Hynniewtrep National Awakening Movement (KHNAM), National People’s Party (NPP) and the Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) attended the meeting.
The ruling Congress and its coalition partner the Nationalist Congress Party (NPP) were also invited but the two parties decided to abstain from the all political parties meeting.
UDP working president Jemino Mawthoh will be the FFT chairman and NPP spokesman James K Sangma besides two representatives each from the five political parties as the members.
Mawthoh said the FFT will examine ailments afflicting the MeECL, the problems as far as power crisis is concerned besides inadequacies, shortcomings and failures of the state government on the power issue.
Mawthoh told reporters, “We will plunge into the roots of everything and we may even try and find what is happening behind the scene.” He said the team will conduct an “on-the-spot-inspection” to the sites where the various power projects are placed including the Rs 1300 crores Myntdu Leshka power projects.
Though the timeframe to complete the study is yet to be fixed, Mawthoh however said, “The report of the fact finding team once completed will be made public after which the political parties, if situation demands, will intensify their programmes to pressurize the state government to resort to corrective measures.”
Adding to this, Paul Lyngdoh, also UDP working president, said, “We need to build up a strong case as there are lots of things which need to be streamlined.”
The all political parties meeting had also taken note of the industrial units operating in the state and their role in the current power crisis in the state. The meeting also demanded the need to review of State Industrial Policy.
Referring to the suggestion made by him when he was the member of a cabinet committee in 2009, Lyngdoh said, “I had suggested the need to shift from high power intensive industries to low power intensive industries which was never taken into consideration.” He was of the opinion that unless there is a shift, Meghalaya is in for a very difficult time in the near future.”
Lyngdoh also informed that the political parties also demanded complete-revamping of the MeECL. He said, “The corporation should instead have professionals and experts to run its system rather than too much of interferences from the state government.” – By Our Reporter
+ There are no comments
Add yours