Shillong, April 21: Power Minister Metbah Lyngdoh on Tuesday clarified that all planned power shutdowns across Meghalaya, including in Garo Hills, are notified to the public in advance, while recent disruptions were caused by unforeseen weather conditions such as cyclones.
Responding to concerns over frequent power cuts, Lyngdoh said that due procedure is followed for scheduled shutdowns. “Whenever there is any kind of planned shutdown, the notice is being served accordingly,” he told reporters.
He attributed recent outages to extreme weather events, stating that disruptions during the cyclone were unavoidable. The minister assured that authorities would continue to inform the public ahead of any planned shutdowns.
Addressing complaints of prolonged outages lasting 7–8 hours, Lyngdoh said these were largely due to ongoing infrastructure and electrification works across various parts of the state. “There are a lot of ongoing schemes at different levels and in different villages, so those are all planned shutdowns,” he said.
The minister further informed that the department is maintaining coordination with local authorities, including Nokmas, to ensure smoother implementation of works and communication with residents.
Lyngdoh said multiple electrification projects are currently underway and are expected to continue over the next one-and-a-half to two years. He also announced the rollout of additional household electrification, with surveys already in progress and work set to begin soon.
On the issue of smart meters, the minister said initial resistance from consumers has subsided. “I don’t see much of a problem now, as people are satisfied with the smart meter system,” he noted.
Regarding the SAI power distribution issue in Mawsynram, Lyngdoh said discussions are ongoing to find a suitable resolution. He reiterated that all initiatives taken by the government and the power department are aimed at ensuring uninterrupted supply and public welfare.
The minister also stated that he would undertake a comprehensive review of the entire power sector to address existing challenges and improve service delivery.
