Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma today reacted to allegations of a new scam in the Meghalaya Energy Corporation Ltd (MeECL) with regards to the smart meter project funded through the Asian Development Bank (ADB).
He defended the Power Department by saying that installation is complete, though he admitted that activation of the smart meters has yet to begin. Nevertheless, the government is confident that the contractor, Satnam Global, will carry out the work in a proper manner.
According to reports last week, the ADB had noted that not a single smart meter from its $132 million project has been installed and activated in Meghalaya despite completion certificates for 25,000 being signed by an official of the Meghalaya Power Distribution Corporation Ltd.
Installation and activation are two different things, though, Sangma said today. “Installation has been done for all. But activation requires the metering to start and that will be connected to the billing system,” the CM told reporters. Activation has not been accomplished for “multiple reasons”.
As to any irregularities, Sangma said that the judicial inquiry announced by his government will uncover any corruption in the MeECL.
“Let the inquiry do its work and let the facts come out,” he said. “I think that would be the best way to ensure that all the information is given to the people in the proper manner.”
