Meghalaya bagged the second prize in the State Energy Efficiency Performance Award (Group 4) for its exceptional performance in the State Energy Efficiency Index.
Power Minister Abu Taher Mondal received the award on behalf of the state from President Droupadi Murmu during the National Energy Conservation Awards (NECA) 2023 function held at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi today.
NECA is an annual event observed on National Energy Conservation Day to recognise the commendable efforts in energy conservation spanning various sectors of the economy.
The function was organised by the Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE) under the Ministry of Power which is delegated as per the Energy Conservation Act 2001, to regulate and promote energy efficiency and its conservation in India.
“The State Energy Efficiency Performance Award reflects our commitment to sustainable practices and energy conservation, motivating us to persist in our endeavours towards a greener and more energy-efficient future,” Mondal said.
According to Mondal, Meghalaya has consistently spearheaded sustainable energy initiatives by launching a Rs 500 crore Solar Mission to ensure a sustainable power source in the state.
To harness the solar power, Meghalaya had planned solar parks at two locations with capacity of 20 MW each – Suchen and Thamar, he said.
In hydro energy, the commissioning of the 33/11kv, 1×2.5MVA substation at Krang village, with a total investment of Rs. 6.60 crore has facilitated the seamless transfer of 2549 households from Krang and its adjoining villages, he said.
While Meghalaya is heavily dependent on the hydro power for its power procurement the minister stated that the state has been generating green power.
According to an official press release, the distribution losses in MePDCL have been reduced gradually recent years. “Compared to the distribution losses 25 per cent in the financial year 2021–2022, the distribution loss in the financial year 2022–2023 was 16 per cent,” it stated.
While several measures have been taken to improve billing efficiency the government said that the draft Energy Conservation Building Code (ECBC) is under consideration for implementation.
A Demand Side Management Cell was also established in MePDCL under assistance of the Bureau of Energy Efficiency, New Delhi to formulate suitable business model to adopt DSM activities.
Apart from this, the government said it has notified the Meghalaya Energy Conservation Regulation-2017 with the objective to promote use of BEE Star level appliance in public procurement and ban uses of incandescent lamp and inefficient magnetic-wire chock of tube lights.
Furthermore, the government recently launched the Meghalaya Electric Vehicle Policy 2021, which aims to have 15 per cent of the state’s vehicles be electric by 2025. The policy offers purchase incentives for early adoption of EVs based on the energy capacity of the battery.
Power Secretary Sanjay Goyal said this recognition is a testament to the state’s unwavering commitment to fostering a sustainable and resilient power infrastructure. He said objective is not only to meet the energy requirements of the community but also to establish a foundation for enhanced service reliability and overall progress in the region.
