Meghalaya, 6th November: Two hydroelectric projects have been cancelled in the past three months by the Meghalaya Democratic Alliance led Government, state might face electricity shortfall. The cancellation of an agreement that was signed in 2010 with M/s Sew Energy Limited for the 65 MW Rangmaw hydro project was approved by the Meghalaya cabinet on Wednesday. On 7th August, the government had terminated an agreement signed in 2007 with the M/s Jaiprakash Power Ventures Limited for executing the 270 MW Umngot Hydro Electric Project.
The new power projects of Meghalaya are caught in uncertainty and the people might have to bear with the intermittent load shedding issue for a longer period.
The Deputy Chief Minister, Prestone Tynsong said that the proposal to cancel the agreement which the was signed in 2010 as they claimed that the project was not feasible. He said, “The company had asked for cancellation of and the power department has agreed to cancel it“.
The reason that was stated for the cancellation of the Umngot Hydro Electric Project is the delay in execution by M/s Jaiprakash Power Ventures Limited. The 22.5 MW Ganol Hydro Electric Project in Garo hills has also been delayed and the progress is far behind the schedule. This project has been encountering several delays ever since the time it was conceived back in 2006. It is predicted that the project might not be completed before January 2022.
Meghalaya has a peak load demand of about 500 MW and there is always electricity shortfall, as a result of which it is almost forced to purchase power approximately every day.
