Nearly 400 new transformers procured to improve rural electrification

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaMarch 14, 2019

SHILLONG: A total of 395 new transformers have been procured by the power department to improve rural electrification in the state during last year.

Informing this while replying in the Assembly here on Thursday, Power Minister James K Sangma said the new procurement was made for replacing the damaged transformers.

However, Congress Nongpoh MLA Mayralborn Syiem wanted to know if the new transformers will also installed for villages where power has been disconnected due to non-payment of electricity bills.

On this, Sangma maintained that practice being followed for installation of transformers will be after (pending) bills are paid to the tune of 30 percent.

“Replacement (of damaged transformers) will also be only after those dues have been cleared,” he said.

Congress legislator from Umroi George B Lyngdoh reminded that as per the Meghalaya State Electricity Regulatory Commission (MSERC) Rules, the damaged transformers should be replaced within seven days and said such blanket procedure will unnecessarily affect households who regularly pay their electricity bills.

In his response, the power minister said the MeECL owes NEEPCO an amount of over Rs 500 crore and only way to improve the revenue collection is to put in place such rules.

“This has had a lot of success in the revenue collection as many villages have come forward and cleared the 30 percent pending bills,” he claimed while informing that the department is also exploring other ways to improve the revenue collection.

Lyngdoh on the other hand said it was unfair for the department to impose such procedure only in rural areas but not in urban areas where there are also people who failed to clear pending bills.

However blaming such problem on the billing system, the Umroi MLA said sometimes bills are delivered for 2-3 months and this has only burden households. He demanded the government to review the billing system and come up with consumer friendly system.

Defending his department, Sangma denied that the department is being unfair to rural areas and said, “There is no disparity in looking at the rural and urban areas. Steps will be taken to introduce smart metering or pre-paid meters as one of the ways to resolve the problem.”