Meghalaya is yet to clear the Rs 600 crore debts to North Eastern Electric Power Corporation (NEEPCO) even as the Shillong-based power corporation is in deep financial crisis.
According to sources, NEEPCO is to receive Rs 536.64 crore from Meghalaya against sale of power for the last few years.
Sources also said that NEEPCO is facing acute financial crisis due to non-payment of its dues by Meghalaya and other north-eastern states.
Speaking to Highland Post today, NEEPCO’s Director (Technical), Himanta Deka admitted to the financial problems being faced by the power corporation.
“Yes we are having financial problems. We are yet to receive the dues amounting to around Rs 600 crore from Meghalaya,” Deka said.
Amid rumours that NEEPCO headquarters may be shifted to Assam, Deka said that National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) which has acquired NEEPCO will decide the matter.
“So far, there has been no such discussion officially to shift the headquarters but it is also a fact that NEEPCO is getting no major power projects from the Meghalaya government apart from Mawphu power project,” Deka said.
On the Mawphu power project which Meghalaya government has handed over to NEEPCO, Deka said that the slow pace of the project is due to delay by the State government to hand over land to NEEPCO for compensatory afforestation.
According to Deka, NEEPCO has to get land for compensatory afforestation to compensate for destroyed forest land that has been diverted to non-forest activities for the Mawphu power project.
“After the State government handed over the land to us for compensatory afforestation we can move the Ministry of Environment and Forest for environmental clearance for the Mawphu power project,” he said.
Deka also said that NEEPCO had a few days back written to the Meghalaya government on the matter.
The 85 mega watt Mawphu hydroelectric project stage-II project will cost around Rs 500 crore. The run-of-river project is located on Umiew river flowing through East Khasi Hills.
