Shillong, Nov 4: Power Minister Metbah Lyngdoh has held several review meetings to gauge the electricity supply situation in the state and the Power Department will try to ensure that there is no load shedding this winter.
Meghalaya’s ability to generate electricity through its hydroelectric power projects is reduced during the dry season in winter, with the state-owned Meghalaya Energy Corporation Ltd (MeECL) often having to resort to load shedding to balance supply and demand.
Meanwhile, the minister defended MeECL’s record in providing prior warning before it embarks on maintenance and upgradation shutdowns.
Lyngdoh also informed that the central government has structured a 50 percent subsidy scheme for solar pumps, with another percent to be borne by the state. However, Lyngdoh informed that in Meghalaya the government is providing a 45 percent subsidy.
The state government is in the process of installing 2000 additional solar pumps.
However, at a recent regional workshop on renewable energy in Guwahati, Lyngdoh raised the issue of benchmarked costs for every one kilowatt.
He highlighted challenges related to the benchmark cost of rooftop solar installations, currently fixed at Rs 55,000 per kWp for North Eastern states, whereas the actual cost is closer to Rs 80,000–Rs 85,000/kWp due to difficult terrain and logistics. He requested the Union Ministry to review and revise the benchmark cost accordingly.
