SHILLONG, July 3: Power Minister AT Mondal has acknowledged the ongoing issues with erratic power supply in rural villages, attributing them to various distribution challenges. In light of the Opposition VPP’s criticism regarding the government’s claims of being power surplus, Mondal stated, “It is true that in many areas there are frequent power cuts,” highlighting the discrepancy between official reports and the lived experiences of villagers.
He elaborated on the distinction between power cuts and load-shedding, explaining that while load-shedding indicates insufficient energy supply, power cuts may also result from technical issues such as snapped conductors, tree falls, transformer failures, and substation faults. “All these factors affect power distribution,” he said. Despite the current status of the state being power surplus, Mondal expressed concern about potential future outages. “Today, we are in a power surplus condition. But I don’t know what will happen tomorrow. Suppose one unit of Leshka goes out, we will lose 42 megawatts, which will affect us badly,” he cautioned.
The minister emphasized the urgent need to strengthen the rural distribution network, stating that plans are underway to improve distribution systems. He noted that the Chief Minister has agreed to allocate funds for the construction of substations, which he believes will resolve many of the ongoing issues. Mondal mentioned a recent visit by Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma to a village that was lacking a transformer, illustrating the specific infrastructural gaps that need addressing.
Additionally, he pointed out that miscommunication and unpaid bills exacerbate the problem. “Sometimes, there are pending dues or other communication gaps. MeECL has to survive on its own. I would request our esteemed consumers to pay their bills regularly so that we can serve them better in return,” he appealed, highlighting the importance of customer responsibility in maintaining service quality.
In parallel to these issues, Mondal addressed rising concerns regarding the implementation of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGA). He acknowledged that as an extensive rural initiative affecting nearly every village in Meghalaya, MGNREGA is prone to occasional lapses, but affirmed that complaints do not signify a total failure of the program. He stressed that the scheme is largely being executed in line with established norms and that the government is actively monitoring its progress, even utilizing video documentation for oversight.
Mondal assured residents that complaints are taken seriously and investigated swiftly to uphold accountability and make necessary corrections as required. This commitment to improving service and management reflects the government’s dedication to addressing both power supply and employment concerns in rural areas.
Original Source: https://theshillongtimes.com/2025/07/04/power-woes-in-rural-areas-due-to-host-of-problems-mondal/
Category: MEGHALAYA
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Publish Date: 2025-07-04 04:17:00
