SHILLONG: Meghalaya’s Power Minister, AT Mondal, has reassured the public that the department has no intentions of resorting to load shedding this summer, although he acknowledges that a delay in rainfall could alter this plan.
“We will do our best to avoid load shedding. The majority of our electricity comes from hydel power, so rainfall is crucial for us. However, this year, there has been a delay in rainfall, similar to last year,” he informed the press on Monday.
Mondal admitted that gusty winds have posed challenges for maintaining uninterrupted 24-hour electricity, as mandated by Chief Minister Conrad Sangma.
“Meghalaya’s vast forested areas mean that power lines often traverse through them. Recent gusty winds have led to occasional power cuts,” he elaborated.
Despite these challenges, the Power Minister stressed that the department’s priority this year was to ensure uninterrupted power supply during board examinations and the Lok Sabha polls, goals which they claim to have achieved.
“We are pleased to report that we have accomplished this,” he remarked.
However, contrary to Mondal’s assertions, reports indicate that residents are already experiencing daily load shedding.
On April 27, the Meghalaya Power Distribution Corporation Limited (MPDCL) announced power supply disruptions from 10 am to 4 pm in various parts of the capital, Shillong.
MPDCL attributed this to maintenance work at the 132/33 KV Mawlai Grid Sub Station and 33/11 KV Sub Stations.
“This is part of routine maintenance, and we are yet to experience peak summer demand,” Mondal clarified.
The memory of the power crisis in 2023 still looms large in the minds of Meghalaya’s residents.
Last year, low rainfall and decreased water levels in Umiam Lake led to power cuts lasting up to 10 hours in some parts of the state.
