Shillong, Jan 8: Meghalaya Power Minister Abu Taher Mondal has assured residents that the state’s power supply remains stable, with no immediate plans for load shedding. He emphasized the government’s priority to maintain uninterrupted electricity, particularly during the ongoing examination season, to avoid any disruptions for students.
“Our intention is to see the examination season pass off without any load shedding. However, as and when the situation arises, we will take a call on that,” Mondal said.
Highlighting challenges faced by the power department, he pointed out the unpredictable surge in transformer loads during the new year. “In the new year, you see the quantum of sudden load factor in every transformer is quite high, and sometimes it is very difficult for us to determine how much additional load will be added during a particular period,” he explained.
Mondal clarified that instances of power outages in the state are unrelated to load shedding. Instead, they are due to repair and renovation works and the implementation of the Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme (RDSS). He explained that such activities often require temporary shutdowns to facilitate the upgrading of substations and transformers.
“This is the season where we can maximize our efforts to ensure all substations and transformers are properly maintained. If lights are off for some time, it is due to repair and renovation or new works under RDSS, and not due to load shedding,” the minister stated.
Reassuring consumers, Mondal said, “We are not going for immediate load shedding, but this is the best time to carry out essential maintenance and upgrades to improve power reliability.” He further appealed for public understanding, pledging that technical issues would be resolved promptly to ensure consistent power supply.