Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma has told the Meghalaya Energy Corporation Ltd (MeECL) to keep its move to outsource the operation and maintenance of 56 sub-stations on hold until he can review the situation.
The controversial proposal to award the contract to a Noida-based company has been opposed by numerous parties, within and without the power utility. While the letter of award (LOA) has been sent to BECIL, the actual signing of the agreement is pending.
The Chief Minister said today that the process will only go forward after he and the cabinet are satisfied with the various aspects of the contract.
“Till then I have asked them (MeECL) to keep everything on hold,” Sangma said.
On the face of it, the plan to outsource was taken because of the need to cut costs within the loss-making state-owned corporation, he opined. It has been estimated that the MeECL will lose up to Rs 800 crore this financial year, to add to its already poor financial situation.
According to the CM, whose older brother James is the Power Minister, the MeECL would be under “huge pressure” to meet the cost of hiring enough staff to maintain the sub-stations.
One of the fears of pressure groups has been that locals will miss out on jobs if an outside company is given the contract to maintain the facilities. However, the CM made it clear that enshrined in the agreement between the MeECL and BECIL is a requirement that locals be prioritised for employment.
Meanwhile, on the issue of constituting an independent inquiry into alleged irregularities in MeECL, Sangma said that Chief Secretary MS Rao has been directed to submit a list of names, which are expected by the end of the week.
According to the Chief Minister, the challenge is going to be finding a retired judge of a High Court who will head the panel and people who are not connected to the system in any way to ensure their independence.
