Power Minister Abu Taher Mondal has said that upgradation of the Mawlai power substation has faced multiple delays due to technical and procedural hurdles.
Replying to questions raised by Mawlai MLA Brighstarwell Marbaniang during the ongoing Budget Session, Mondal said the project, originally sanctioned on March 8, 2019, at a cost of Rs 49.8 crore, has now been revised to Rs 279.23 crore, with the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER) approving the revised cost on January 16, 2025. However, DoNER has capped its funding at the original Rs 49.8 crore, leaving an additional Rs 29.43 crore to be borne by the Meghalaya government. The implementation has been entrusted to Meghalaya Power Transmission Corporation Limited (MePTCL).
Marbaniang sought clarity on why the project had not progressed despite the approval from DoNER. In response, Mondal cited several reasons, including the cancellation of the initial tender due to non-compliance with North Eastern Council (NEC) guidelines, the imposition of the Model Code of Conduct a day after the project sanction, and the disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
“The Detailed Project Report (DPR) had to be revised twice to keep the original cost intact, but DoNER did not agree. Finally, a revised DPR amounting to Rs 79.23 crore was sent to the ministry in February 2024, and it took nearly a year to secure clearance. Multiple deliberations were required with the Power Ministry, DoNER, NITI Aayog, and the Central Electricity Authority, which further prolonged the process,” Mondal explained.
Marbaniang, however, expressed concern that despite the revised project approval, the state still stands to lose due to the additional financial burden. He further inquired whether work on the project had started.
Mondal assured that the detailed tender documents have been prepared and will be floated in April 2025. However, Marbaniang urged the government to speed up the execution and ensure that local contractors and suppliers are given priority in the project implementation.
Responding to this, Mondal acknowledged the importance of the project, stating, “This is one of the most crucial substations for Shillong as it was originally constructed in 1964 and caters to nearly 60 per cent of the city’s power consumers. We will try to ensure that the project comes up at the earliest.”
Regarding the engagement of local contractors, the minister clarified that their eligibility will depend on their compliance with the criteria outlined in the tender documents.
