Meghalaya's Umiam Dam is on the verge of shutting down: CM Conrad Sangma

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• Jun 7, 2023 | Dhupali Das

Meghalaya has been suffering from a power crisis for several weeks and may have to suffer much more in the coming days...

Digital Desk: Meghalaya has been suffering from a power crisis for several weeks and may have to suffer much more in the coming days as the water level at Umiam dam, which is used to generate hydroelectric power, is at its lowest and is on the verge of shutting down, said Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma. 

"It (Umiam Dam) is almost at the point of shutting down because the state has not received the required rainfall in the last few months," the Chief Minister lamented, adding that "this has been one of the hardest months in regards to rain for the state." 

"We are doing everything we can to guarantee that load shedding does not exceed this...If the current situation persists for the next 100 days, the government will have to spend another Rs 300 crore on power purchases, said CM Sangma, who highlighted the "hard situation" the state is currently in. 

He stated that during the last two years, the state government has spent around Rs 600 crore of the state's revenue on various expenses, including the purchase of power from MeECL to maintain existing power levels.

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"Considering the current situation, we are buying nearly Rs 3 crore of power every day. In order to sustain the current level of load-shedding, we will need to spend an extra Rs 300 crore on power purchases over the course of the next 100 days," the CM added. 

The delayed monsoon has impacted the state's power scenario, but he claims that the crisis will be resolved only when the rains arrive. 

However, practically every state is suffering a similar dilemma as we are, said CM Sangma. "The rains are affecting everyone, and the overall situation is bad everywhere."