Mondal seeks early release of central funds for ₹2,270-cr projects
Shillong, July 5: Meghalaya has added 434 circuit kilometres of 220kV and 132kV transmission lines and boosted its transformation capacity by 1,130 MVA over the past five years.
The upcoming projects are expected to contribute another 1,090 circuit kilometres and 760 MVA, said power minister AT Mondal while addressing 16th National Power Committee (NPC) meeting held here on Friday.
However, the minister said, the upcoming projects require an estimated ₹2,270 crore in funding while Meghalaya among other North Eastern states are awaiting release of the Power System Development Fund (PSDF) allocations.
The PSDF has remained frozen despite formal approval of the North East’s long-term transmission roadmap by Central Electricity Authority (CEA).
Mondal, who also chairs the North Eastern Regional Power Committee (NERPC), made a compelling appeal for immediate release of PSDF allocations.
He said the delay in disbursing these funds is stalling critical infrastructure upgrades across the region.
“The ‘Transmission System Requirement of NER States & Sikkim up to 2031-32 has already been approved by the CEA, yet the funds are still pending,” he said.
Meanwhile, Mondal also advocated for a dedicated 132/33 kV substation in border areas like Baghmara to strengthen connectivity in remote and strategic zones.
On the occasion, Mondal and CEA chairperson Ghanshyam Prasad jointly inaugurated the new NERPC office building in Shillong.
Reflecting on the milestone, the minister recalled his early involvement in resolving legal hurdles that had delayed the project’s construction.
