7 MLAs from Jaintia Hills united in opposing MDA govt’s move to privatise MeECL

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaJune 3, 2021

Irrespective of party affiliations, the legislators from Jaintia Hills on Thursday have unanimously decided to oppose the National People’s Party-led Meghalaya Democratic Alliance government’s move to privatise the Meghalaya Energy Corporation Limited (MeECL). 

The decision was taken at a meeting held in Shillong and attended by all the MLAs which include Lahkmen Rymbui, Coming One Ymbon, Sniawbhalang Dhar, Kyrmen Shylla, Wailadmiki Shylla, Nujorki Sungoh and Shitlang Pale.

Addressing media persons after the meeting, Home Minister Lahkmen Rymbui said, “We the seven legislators of Jaintia HIlls both the East and West Jaintia Hills…have unanimously decided that we are against the proposed privatization or hand over  of the distribution circles of Jaintia Hills to any govt or non-govt organizations (from outside the state).”

“We are for the streamlining the working of the MeECL in reducing the aggregate technical and commercial  (AT&C) losses but not to handover to any private or govt organizations,” he added.

Rymbui, also UDP MLA from Amlarem, informed that all the MLAs are also against the proposed handover of maintenance and operation of Myntdu Leshka Hydro Electric Project which is in Jaintia Hills to private or government organizations (from outside the state).

“We have decided to meet the Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma for his immediate intervention. This decision has been taken by all the seven MLAs from Jaintia Hills for the benefit of the people of the districts and the state as a whole,” he said.

The home minister further said that the MLAs would also demand the chief minister to immediately set up the RTPCR test centre in Jaintia Hills for tackling the COVID-19 pandemic effectively. 

He said the proposed corona care centre should also be set up in Jaintia HIlls besides Shillong and Tura.

“We want the government to expedite the setting up of the oxygen plant in Khliehriat CHC and also to strengthen the manpower and health facilities in the district to meet the urgent need in fighting this pandemic and also to provide sufficient oxygen cylinders to all the PHCs and CHCs across the region,” he added. 

Asked what action will they take if government decided to go ahead in privatisation of the MeECL, Rymbui said,  “I am not the spokesperson of the CM, we are here to speak for the issue which concerns the state especially now the Jaintia Hills region.” 

“We will bring this to the notice and we will see what the chief minister, power minister or the corporation will do to address the issue. We hope that the our CM, power department and MeECL will listen to the voice of the people,” he stated.