The Meghalaya Energy Corporation Limited (MeECL) has denied allegations that electricity connections to several villages in Garo Hills have been disconnected.
This was affirmed by Advocate-General Amit Kumar during hearing of a public interest litigation (PIL) filed by All India Trinamool Congress (AITC) spokesman Saket Gokhale in the division bench of the High Court today.
Gokhale had said that the MeECL and the Meghalaya Power Distribution Corporation Limited (MePDCL), the second and third respondents in the case, have resorted to arbitrary disconnection of electricity supply to entire villages on account of a few of the villagers having allegedly defaulted in paying their dues.
However, the Advocate-General appearing for MeECL, MePDCL and the State government informed the High Court that there has been no disconnection of electricity of the kind complained of in the PIL.
Kumar stated that transformers in several places in the South Garo Hills District, including at Kalibari, were destroyed due to lightning strikes or otherwise damaged in the usual course and required repair or replacement.
He also said that the work may have taken some time but in most places the transformers have been repaired or new transformers have been put in place and the electricity supply to the villages has been restored.
In the light of the categorical submission on behalf of the MeECL, MePDCL that no coercive action has been taken against the collective for the default in payment on the part of a few, the High Court disposed of the PIL.
