50 percent deficit in electricity supply not acceptable in today’s day and age: Meghalaya High Court to State

The Meghalaya High Court on Wednesday slammed the State government for failing to mitigate electricity supply deficit of over 50 percent of the required amount in the wake of subdued rainfall in the State [Flaming B Marak vs State of Meghalaya and ors]..A bench of Chief Justice Sanjib Banerjee and W Diengdoh made it clear that such a scenario is not acceptable, given that both domestic and business life may come to a standstill on account of electricity shortage.."It is completely unacceptable that the quantum of deficit would be in excess of 50 per cent. It is possible that because of low rainfall or other problems there is a shortfall for some period and a shortfall which may be not more than 10 per cent of the daily demand. It seems that the shortfall here is more than 50 to 60 per cent of the demand and such a situation cannot be acceptable in this day and age where both business and domestic life almost come to a standstill without the availability of electricity," the bench observed..The State government informed that the power deficit was due to less water being collected in the Umiam Dam on account of the subdued pre-monsoon rains. .The Court then directed the State to file a more comprehensive affidavit outlining the larger picture, including corrective measures being taken like buying additional power from the national grid..Pertinently, the bench also advised that small-scale hydel or other forms of electricity generating projects could be set up to address the issue in the long term, given the State's hilly terrain and abundant rainfall. ."Indeed, a 10-year or a 20-year plan has to be made out, taking into account the increased demand in future, to ensure that adequate steps are taken either to generate electricity or to purchase or obtain supply thereof from other sources to ensure that, ideally, there is no gap between the demand and the supply," the bench underscored. .The High Court was hearing a plea raising grievance over power shortages in the State..Advocate PT Sangma appeared for the petitioner. Additional Advocate General T Yangi B with advocates AH Kharwanlang, S Laloo, and AS Pandey appeared for the State..[Read order]