SHILLONG:
The Hynniewtrep Youth Council (HYC), on August 1, asked for a clarification from the deputy Chief Minister in charge Power, Prestone Tynsong, on his recent statement that the cost of each single-phase smart meters after taking into account all other components, is Rs 5889, and three-phase smart meter comes to about Rs 11238.
“If we go by what the deputy Chief Minister is saying, then, the total cost of the project should be only Rs 119 crore (Rs 5889 x 19,7487 single-phase meters and Rs 11238 x 2513 three-phase smart meter). Then on what basis the project is allotted at a whopping cost of Rs 232 crore,” questioned HYC general secretary, Roy Kupar Synrem.
Synrem also said that for the interest of the public of the state, the HYC would like to know what are the other components of the contract which made up to an amount of Rs. 113,839,7306 when the cost, as provided as per calculation, should be only Rs. 1191242037.
Earlier on July 30, Tynsong had said that the HYC has incorrectly calculated the total cost of each smart meter as they failed to ascertain the type of meters since there are of different categories.
The minister in charge of power had said that the basic price of the single-phase smart meter is Rs 3750 and taking into account all the other components – the meter box, the cost-of-service cable fitting, installation, the modules and communication models, among others – the price becomes Rs 5889. And for three-phase meter, the total cost comes to Rs 11238 each.
The HYC also stated that they had gone through the detailed project report (DPR) along with all the documents of the project – the board of directors meeting of MPDCL dated February 12, 2021 and the LOA issued to the JV of Satnam dated February 16, 2021 – before zeroing down on their statement.
“Based on these documents, which we got through RTI, we made the statements above and requested you (Tynsong) for a clarification,” the HYC said.
The cost of each smart meter has been the bone of contention between the pressure group and the government with the former constantly questioning the government on the issue based on right to information reports and the latter, clarifying on it.