Despite the recent assurance by Power Minister James Sangma that the Myntdu-Leshka power station in East Jaintia Hills and New Umtru power station in Ri-Bhoi will not be handed over to private companies, there is still confusion on the matter.
According to sources, a number of private companies have submitted their techno-commercial bids for operation and maintenance of the two power stations.
Sources also said that the bids will be opened tomorrow afternoon at the head office of Meghalaya Energy Corporation Limited (MeECL) here in the presence of Meghalaya Power Generation Corporation Limited (MePGCL) Chief Engineer R Syiem, MePGCL Director (Generation) and other officials.
It may be mentioned that on June 11, Sangma had convened a meeting with MeECL officials in charge of generation, distribution and transmission to discuss a turnaround plan for the corporation.
After the meeting, Sangma told media persons that MeECL would continue to operate and maintain the Myntdu-Leshka and New Umtru power stations.
Sangma also informed that operation and maintenance of the two power stations by MeECL would be in the best interest of the corporation.
The tender for operation and maintenance of the 126 Mega Watt Myntdu-Leshka Hydro Electric Project and 42 Mega Watt New Umtru Hydro Electric Project was floated by Meghalaya Power Generation Corporation Limited (MePGCL) on May 6.
The invitation of outside agencies to run the two most important power projects has been criticised by employees of MeECL who termed it as an attempt toward selling, leasing off the assets of the corporation to the highest bidder.
The employees said that since the inception of these two power stations, the engineers of MeECL have tremendously run the two stations with optimum efficiency and millions of units of electricity has been generated and crores of rupees of revenue has been realised under the supervision of local engineers and technicians.
According to them, handing over the power stations to private companies would have a negative impact on the educated young and bright engineers of the State along with the skilled and semi-skilled youth of the State who will be deprived of a full-time job in MeECL.
