Industrial firms that do not clear their electricity bills will be disconnected, Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong, who is also the Power Minister, warned today.
Speaking to reporters, Tynsong said that the financially struggling Meghalaya Energy Corporation Ltd (MeECL) is trying its best to recover outstanding dues, including those incurred by ordinary households.
“We have arrived at a system and we have told them to pay as soon as possible and this process is ongoing,” Tynsong said.
A Right to Information (RTI) request found that 58 industrial units in Ri-Bhoi owe a staggering Rs 44 crore to the state-owned power utility.
Tynsong said that these companies will also have to pay a penalty on top of the amount owed and there will be no waiver offered.
Under his predecessor, the Power Department came in for stiff criticism over an amnesty offered to late comers. This effectively rewarded late payers instead of all those who routinely pay their bills on time.
However, Tynsong justified the one time settlement (OTS) scheme, saying that only the penalties were waived and not the actual bill amount for power consumption.
He added that the MeECL has already disconnected some industries that have failed to comply with the order.
