Meghalaya is on the verge of one of the worst load-shedding schedules in history, if not the worst in the world. Existing as it does in one of the warmest months of the year, the entire region has been put to the test.
What is the worst possible beginning to a new chapter in the political existence of a new government?
Imagine eating dinner by 10 p.m. the night before so that you could recover. You nestle into your pillow and envelop yourself in your blankets.
By the time you fall asleep, it is already 10:30 p.m. You ensured that the windows and doors were shut so that you could sleep peacefully. Your mind immediately rushes to the fact that there will be another two-hour power outage at 11 p.m., at a time when you need sleep the most.
The query “why?” arises in your thoughts.
The man with the electric switch lever shuts down the system at precisely 11 p.m., after which you begin to pray and reopen the windows that you had so carefully shut in the hopes that a breeze will send you to sleep.
You fall asleep around 12:30 am after a struggle, and this continues until 4 am, when the lever man turns it off again. You promptly rise due to the weather and curse the guy to his face, but you bide your time in utter helplessness.
Obviously, the lever man does not know that. While he was exceptionally expeditious in turning off the system, he takes a full six minutes longer to turn it back on. At 7:06 a.m., the power returns, and you once again prepare for the next alarm at 8:00 a.m. Two hours will pass before the power is restored, so you can only pray that the outage ends soon. Again, on time at 8 a.m. and again, 2 minutes later than 10 a.m.
You have now showered and are prepared for work. You toil from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., when once again, precisely at 4 p.m., the lever guy does his job, and for the next three hours, you curse him as well as those who have forced this fate upon you and everyone in Garo Hills. At 7 p.m., when the electricity returns, you prepare for the knockout punch at 11 p.m., which will conclude the day on a high note.
This has become a typical day for Garo Hills residents, and judging by how the government has taken to giving everyone a free transport, things will not improve. What has perplexed people at this time is everyone’s eerie stillness.
Since the announcement of load-shedding more than a month ago, political parties and non-governmental organizations have remained silent, with a few exceptions seeking only a reduction in load-shedding hours.
The 10-hour shutdown raises the question of whether we brought it upon ourselves or whether there was a viable alternative. The MeECL and its subsidiaries have been used as milk cows by succeeding governments for generations, so the current situation cannot be solely attributed to MDA 1.0 or 2.0.
Consider the situation now. When excessive rainfall occurs, the power is disconnected. If it does not rain, our fate remains unchanged. How is it possible that we are the only state in the nation to have overdrawn from the grid? asked Tura resident AM Marak.
Many are now selling their electronic devices out of feigned frustration.
Tyrone D’Brass, the former principal of Sherwood School, stated without equivocation that it was a collective failure and a blatant display of poor governance by the new MDA government.
“This is an example of poor governance by the MDA and the failure of previous administrations. As a result of 51 years of mismanagement, Meghalaya is now expected to have a $10 billion economy. To get there, planning and foresight are necessary.
This demonstrates that none of the Meghalaya politicians possess such abilities. In actuality, the misleaders lack any form of intelligence. Consequently, Meghalaya is in the depths,” he lamented. His views are shared by nearly everyone in Garo Hills.
Perhaps we’re paying the price for electing this government. I am certain that the opposition bench is chuckling themselves to slumber with the thought, “I told you so!” Whatever the reason, Meghalaya is in the Guinness Book of World Records for subjecting its residents to a daily 10-hour blackout, according to JD Sangma, another resident of Tura.
Despite the 10-hour load-shedding schedule, electricity costs have not decreased.
In response to a question regarding the closure, Power Minister AT Mondal stated that their hands were tied due to a lack of rainfall and excessive power consumption from the national grid.
“When it gets warmer, other Himalayan states have an abundance of water due to snow melting. Assam has an alternative energy source, thermal, whereas our state’s energy is derived solely from hydroelectric initiatives. The Leshka facility has been shut down due to a lack of rainfall, and the Barapani plant is also experiencing a water shortage. We are also unable to purchase additional electricity from the utility because our account is overdrawn, as stated by the minister of energy.
How did the state overdraw from the grid when, even during normal periods, there were at least 4-5 power outages per day? is the question on everyone’s mind.
According to a MeECL source, an overdraft occurs when you generate more funds than you have paid for.
“You have overdrawn if your demand is, say, 35 MW but you overwork your turbines to produce 40 MW. You are then required to pay for the overdrawn MW,” the source explained.
Given that electricity has been flashing disco lights even during normal hours, where exactly did the state overdraw power, and who benefited from it? The explanations are currently not readily available.
Concerns have also been expressed regarding the recently inaugurated Ganol Hydro project. Built to serve the population of Garo Hills, the project has not even begun operations despite being inaugurated.
“There is an issue with the project that we are attempting to resolve,”
On the day of the project’s inauguration, an eyewitness reported that the dam was completely full. However, when they returned the following day, there was no water being treated.
Meanwhile, the most recent images of Ganol revealed that the dam was brimming with water, primarily due to water accumulation. In terms of both electricity and water, however, the city has been experiencing a dry phase.
“It must have been a ploy to score political points prior to elections. The dam has already developed fractures prior to its completion. Why was the launch so urgent if the undertaking itself is flawed? This offered us hope for a better future, albeit a false hope,” the anonymous witness said, requesting anonymity.
Garo Hills and the entire state are experiencing the worst heatwave on record, and based on how things are shaping up, everyone must prepare for the long term.
Another resident, who wished to remain anonymous, made a humorous remark. “Until we have 18 hours of load shedding, we cannot slumber. In the end, we sent 18 NPP leaders to head the state,” said the individual.
Another resident requested that the government eliminate electricity entirely and convert everyone to solar power.
“MeECL and electricity in Meghalaya are a complete farce. Over decades, this decadent department has been giving us uneasy nights. The government should eliminate electricity and transition everyone to solar energy. “In its second term, this government has done absolutely nothing right,” declared activist Maxbirth Momin.
“The only way to get a good night’s slumber in Garo Hills these days is to be completely inebriated. Then nothing can possibly disturb you. “However, when you wake up the next morning, the ceiling fan is not turning and you have a splitting headache,” remarked another resident.