SHILLONG, APR 30: The banned Hynniewtrep National Liberation Council (HNLC) alleged that the ongoing power crisis in the state is a “planned-conspiracy” of the Meghalaya government so that it creates an option for uranium mining to generate electricity.
“This current crisis is designed to suit the personal motives of the government,” HNLC publicity secretary Sainkupar Nongtraw said in a statement issued on Wednesday.
Nongtraw said, “The government policy towards Meghalaya is aimed at making the people of Khasi and Garo to live a poor life. Indian Government wants to take away uranium, electricity, coal, land and everything else that would otherwise make the Hynñiewtrep lives enriched.”
Nongtraw, however, warned the outfit would never tolerate anything related to uranium mining and the people encouraging
According to Nongtraw, the load shedding has affected everyone (newspapers, hospitals, banks, school, water supply and other important services. He said the state has two hydroelectric project – Umiam, a storage project, and Myntdu-leska, a run-of-the-river(ROR) Project generating around 186 MW And 126 MW respectively.
Pointing out that the state requirement for power is over 600 MW and it purchase power from 11 companies to meet the demand with the outstanding dues for power purchase touching Rs 473.85 crore as on February 28 last.
Saying that the state owes NEEPCO Rs 364 crore, followed by Power Grid Corporation of India Limited Rs 28.39 crore, NTPC Rs 24.65 crore and National Hydro Power Corporation at Rs.21.23 crore, Nongtraw wondered how the region which was a power surplus state suddenly starting making loss with MeSEB incurring a loss of Rs 12.15 crore in 2006.
Nongtraw also pointed out that in addition to that the state government had to shell out Rs 923.3crores in 2006-07 to buy power from external sources.
Nongtraw said, “Although the state has vast hydro power potential estimated at 3000 MW, the installed capacity of Leskha Myntdu hydel project in 2012, on which close to Rs 1300 crore has been spent, has proven to be useless as this run of the river project is operating more like a small hydro project generating a disappointing 6 MW of power of its installed capacity of 126 MW During the dry season.”
Nongtraw was of the opinion that the Myntdu-Leskha power project is just a ploy to pool in finances which will again suit the needs of politicians and bureaucrats. He said the MLHEP was estimated at Rs 390 crores and now it has gone up to an estimated 1300 crore which he felt is a clear cut indication of corruption and exploitation of the Meghalaya government.
Pointing out that state has failed to develop thermal power generation which could have helped to tide over the power deficit during dry season, Nongtraw said, “It has also not been able to tap into the vast renewable energy potential of the state.”
Nongtraw informed that it is estimated that the state can generate 44 MW of power from wind energy and another 230 MW from small hydro projects. Out of these hundred crores of rupees, the government of Meghalaya would also have its shares amounting to crores.
Stating that the region has plenty of mineral resources including coal, Nongtraw rued that everything is being transported abroad and elsewhere in India.- By Our Reporter
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