SHILLONG, APR 29: Demanding a CBI probe into the failure of the Myntdu-Leshka power project to generate enough power, the United Democratic Party wants the state government to publish a white paper on the power scenario in Meghalaya.
Irked by the frequent load shedding stretching from seven to eleven hours in different parts of the Khasi, Jaintia and Garo hills, the UDP staged a sit-in-demonstration at the parking lots of the additional secretariat on Tuesday. It lambasted the Congress led MUA II coalition government led by chief minister Mukul Sangma over its inability to tide-over the present power crisis that has engulfed the entire state.
UDP legislators, MDCs and party workers participated in the sit-in-demonstration.
Smelling foul play over the implementation of the Myntdu-Leshka power project that was suppose to generate 126 MW of power but ended up generating only 6 MW now, the UDP wanted a CBI investigating as to how the initial Rs 300 crore project escalated to Rs 1300 crore and still failed to resolve the power need of the state.
Holding placards that read “ Power project or pocket project, we need to know”, “ Hello Mr CM, how long you will keep us in the dark” and “ Before power surplus, now power deficit, why?”, UDP working president and legislator Jemino Mawthoh- who led the sit in demonstration- said the party is alarmed by the frequent load shedding in the state.
Mawthoh said, “We are alarmed at the prevailing situation and we expressed our great disappointment on the insensitivity, lackadaisical and indifference attitude of the state government to address the issue of power leaving the residents who have been complying to pay electricity bills regularly to suffer for no fault of theirs.”
Mawthoh said due to the frequent power cut the people are suffering for weeks and normal life have been thrown out of gear . He said, “Whatever justification the state government and the MeECL give for this unprecedented power shutdown is unacceptable.”
Pointing that Meghalaya was a surplus power state once , Mawthoh felt that now, even after execution of agreements with several private power companies, the state government is tight-lipped on its status. He questioned, “What happened to these power projects?”
The UDP will also be submitting a four-point demand to the Chief Minister Mukul Sangma on the issue.
Demanding that the government ensure uninterrupted power supply, Mawthoh said, “The state government should come out clear on power scenario by producing a white paper that should include the state’s present generation, distribution and commissioning of such power projects. The people deserve answers.”
Mawthoh felt that as the Meghalaya power minister Clement Marak failed to address the power crisis in the state it was but natural that he should immediate step-down on moral ground.”
Questioning the functioning of the MeECL, Mawthoh said it is time the state government considers revamping the MeECL.- By Our Reporter
