SHILLONG:
Minister in-charge of power department, Prestone Tynsong said that the Hynniewtrep Youth Council (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.
Stating that the various categories include single-phase smart meter, three-phase smart meter, DT meter, LT meter and HT meter, the cabinet minister 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 the three-phase smart meter, the minister said that the basic cost of each meter is Rs 5120 but when all the components, including GST, are added to it, the total comes to Rs 11238 each.
“So, I think the HYC got confused when they received the right to information (RTI) reply as the RTI only mentioned the basic price, which is Rs 5120,” he added.
Earlier on July 27, the HYC had demanded justification from the Power minister as how the installation, testing and other services of each smart meter is fixed at Rs 9191 when the cost of the each meter is only Rs 3750.
Informing about the differences between each smart meter type, the deputy chief minister said, “If your house is small, you need only a single-phase meter, but if you have a bigger house, you will need a three-phase meter. It all depends on the watts of power you consume.”
Tynsong said that the installation of smart meters in Meghalaya is free of cost as the state is entitled to shell out only 20 per cent of whatever amount received from the Asian Development Bank (ADB).
He added that the state received 2 lakh smart meters and around 1.20 lakhs has already been sanctioned in Garo Hills and the rest will be installed in the Khasi-Jaintia region.
“Of the 1.20 lakh meters sanctioned for Garo Hills, about 45,000 to 50,000 have been installed and now the government is in the process of completing the same in Khasi-Jaintia Hills,” said Tynsong..
Tynsong admitted that when it comes to Khasi-Jaintia Hills, the process of installing smart meters is facing apprehension from the stakeholders, but the government has directed the officials of Meghalaya Energy Corporation Limited (MeECL) to create awareness about the benefits of smart meters with the help of local administration such as the dorbar shnongs.
Refuting allegations levelled by opposition All India Trinamool Congress (AITC) that MeECL is using Chineses-made smart meters, Tynsong hit back at leader of opposition, Mukul Sangma, saying that a veteran leader of his stature should “’know the facts” before making any comments.
“Such a veteran politician, who has served the state for over eight years as chief minister, should know the facts before making any comments, let alone on the smart meter,” said Tynsong.
Tynsong said that when the tendering process of installation of smart meters is completed, it will come to the power department and from the power department, the government will send it to Delhi for final approval.
“When the tendering process is completed, it will go to Delhi to the Rural Electrification Corporation (REC) Limited which is the technical agency of the government of India when it comes to installation of smart meters,” he added.
Tynsong said REC is the one which has to check whether the material and the company it was procured from, are genuine or not, only then they will certify. “And without getting the approval from the REC, no state government will blindly engage or issue work or supply order to any Tom, Dick and Harry,” he said.