The Power Department is working to avoid load shedding for a second winter in a row.
This was informed by Power Minister Abu Taher Mondal here today.
“Challenges will always arise, especially with the high and unpredictable load on transformers during the New Year period,” he said. “It can be difficult to anticipate the additional load at any given time, however, we are confident in the state’s power supply, and there are no plans for load shedding at the moment. We are also making efforts to ensure uninterrupted power during the upcoming examination period for students.”
Mondal clarified that not all power disruptions (much of Shillong suffered a prolonged outage this morning) are due to load shedding. “This is the season when most repair and renovation work takes place, as the dry weather is ideal for such activities. Additionally, the implementation of new projects, such as the Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme (RDSS), will necessitate power shutdowns. Similarly, upgrading several substations will also require temporary power outages,” he explained.
Looking back on 2024, the minister said that his department is implementing reforms, addressing shortcomings and gradually resolving challenges.
“Last year, we prioritised minimising load shedding and I am pleased to say that we successfully reduced it to zero. This year, we are focusing on upgrading infrastructure to ensure that no area is left out,” Mondal stated. “The Chief Minister has tasked us with connecting all villages to the power grid, ensuring no community is excluded. We are actively working on this and aim to connect around 50,500 households.”
