SHILLONG:
Faced with a power shortage, Power Minister Abu Taher Mondal on Friday indicated that load-shedding was imminent in the state.
After reviewing the power scenario, Mondal told reporters that the dry season has arrived and there is shortage of power supply in the grid.
“If there is no rain immediately, naturally we will face a situation where we may have to resort to load-shedding,” he said.
The power minister, however, assured that the department will try its level best to avoid load-shedding during the examination period.
“We are trying our best and after it is over then we will see how we are placed,” he said adding “all these things are there and that is why we thought that we should take a call on these issues.”
When asked, Mondal said that the government was taking all steps to see that the Meghalaya Energy Corporation Limited (MeECL) functioned properly.
“We will ensure that the losses are minimised so that not only the people of the state but even the corporation officers get the end benefits,” he said.
On the power projects, the minister said he would soon take a call on the issue after the budget session of the assembly.
“No new power project or rather you can say what about the old power projects, I am taking a call on this issue also. After the budget session, we will have another review meeting on the MoUs signed between the government and private producers. We will take a call on it because there is no point in keeping these MoUs lying when the parties are not interested in executing the work,” he stated.
To another query related to protests against government’s move to implement new hydro power projects in the state, the power minister maintained that for any new power project or venture the government has to consider the views expressed by stakeholders.