‘Govt working towards ensuring 24-hour power supply in Meghalaya’
Shillong, Aug 29: The state power department is exploring options for renewable energy, including solar power and hydro projects to improve the power generation in the state.
“A detailed project report (DPR) for the second phase of the Leshka project is being prepared and is in its advance stage,” Commissioner & Secretary in-charge power department Sanjay Goyal told reporters on Friday.
“The department is also working with private developers to set up hydro projects, which will benefit the state with free power availability up to 13%,” he said.
Goyal assured that the state is following the resource adequacy plan prepared by the Central Electricity Authority (CEA).
Stating that there is no shortage of power in Meghalaya, Goyal said the state is working towards providing 24-hour power supply to its consumers.
“We are comfortable and we are handling our energy management portfolio quite professionally and that is the way we are not adhering to any scheduled load-shedding,” he stated.
The official attributed the occasional power disruptions to factors such as tree felling and branch uprooting during rains, which damage power poles and conductors.
He further informed that the power department is undertaking a massive upgradation of its infrastructure, including replacing rusted poles, upgrading transformers, and installing covered conductors besides implementation of new sub stations to reduce power disruptions.
“This is happening in a big way in the state,” Goyal said while requesting consumers to bear with the department during scheduled shutdowns, which are necessary for the upgradation work.
The department informs consumers about planned shutdowns through newspaper notices, Twitter etc.
“Now we are in the process of upgrading the mobile phones of our consumers and based on that we will try to send the individual SMSs also keeping the areas where this shutdowns or the planned interventions are required,” Goyal announced.
When asked, Goyal said the power department is not differentiating between urban and rural areas in terms of power supply availability.
