CAG report blames MeECL for Meghalaya power crisis

SHILLONG: Meghalaya government's ambitious project to provide electricity to all the hamlets in the state, this year, may not be realized, the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India report has stated.

"The planning of Meghalaya Energy Corporation Limited (MeECL) was impractical and the possibility of providing electricity to all households by the end of 2012 as envisaged under National Electricity Policy (NEP) appears to be remote," the latest CAG report, recently tabled in the state assembly, remarked.

As per the findings till March 31, 2006, of the 6026 villages in the state (as per 2001 Census), 3568 villages (59.21 per cent) were electrified. Under Rajiv Gandhi Grameen Vidyutikaran Yojana (RGGVY), MeECL aimed to provide electricity to 5388 villages by January, 2012, but only 55.89 per cent of target has been achieved during the period 2007-11.

The CAG report noted several other deficiencies like "under utilization" of scheme funds, delayed completion of works, provision of excess capacity transformers, high variation in rates of materials while implementing RGGVY.

"The Restructured Accelerated Power Development and Reforms Programme, launched three years ago, meant to strengthen the distribution system and reduce aggregate technical and commercial (AT&C) losses was yet to be taken up for implementation," the report read.

The CAG further pointed out that the MeECL was yet to take up energy audit or implement energy conservation measures. It also said that distribution reforms envisaged under National Electricity Policy were not fully achieved by MeECL and increase in distribution capacity was not commensurate with the growth in demand.

"MeECL failed to complete power projects in time leading to high dependence on outside power purchase resulting in high cost of power," the report pointed out.

The CAG recommended timely implementation of central schemes, strengthening distribution network, effective system of billing and revenue collection, expediting cent per cent metering for consumers and completion of pending power projects besides timely redressal of consumer complaints and conducting energy audit.