Shillong, Feb 8 : Meghalaya is staring at dark days with the water level in Umiam Lake decreasing gradually.
Yesterday’s reading at the lake was just 3192.93 feet, 28 feet less than the 3,220 feet required to produce maximum electricity.
The Meghalaya State Electricity Board (MeSEB) now has no option other than resorting to power cuts at the earliest.
Principal secretary, power, B.K. Dev Verma, today admitted that there was a shortage of power in the state as the 175MW Umiam hydel project was its only source at the moment. He said MeSEB officials would meet soon to discuss the hours of power cuts.
An MeSEB official said as examinations were round the corner, efforts would be made to ensure that students do not suffer.
“We will adjust the timing of the power cuts so that students are not affected as they prepare for various examinations,” he said.
Though Meghalaya has hydropower potential of around 3,000MW and a demand for over 600MW, its present power generation is only 175MW.
As the result the state is also unable to supply the required power to the industrial units in Ri Bhoi district .
The inability on part of the MeSEB to get the Myntdu Leshka hydel project (126MW) commissioned has worsened the crisis.
The state’s inability to explore the potential of coal-based thermal power projects adds to its woes.
0 comments:
Post a Comment