Shillong, April 28,2025: Meghalaya Power Minister AT Mondal participated at the Regional Power Ministers’ Conference for North-Eastern and Eastern States held in Gangtok, Sikkim on 26 April 2025, AT Mondal raised the key concerns regarding the State’s Power Sector.

Mondal flagged the issue of No Objection Certificates (NOCs) for Pumped Storage Projects (PSPs), stating that the modalities proposed by the Ministry of Power in collaboration with National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC), were not favourable to Meghalaya.

“The state should be beneficial like in the case of normal Hydro Projects,” he said, stressing that repeated concerns had gone unanswered.

Responding to the concerns, the Union Power Minister assured that the Ministry would work out a balanced arrangement that would benefit both the State and the Central Public Sector Undertakings (CPSUs). He also encouraged Meghalaya to explore the setting up of solar Power Plants.

Mondal also urged the Centre to support the development of small Hydro Projects in Meghalaya, given the State’s vast potential. The Union Minister directed officials to work out the necessary modalities.

Highlighting resource adequacy, Mondal stated that Meghalaya is committed to maintaining uninterrupted power supply, but observations on the Final Resource Adequacy Plan prepared by Central Electricity Authority (CEA), for which response was awaited. The Union Minister promised early action.

On transmission capacity, Mondal requested an extension of the North Eastern Region Power System Improvement Project (NERPSIP) Scheme to strengthen infrastructure for future load growth in Meghalaya and other Northeastern States.

He also pointed to significant improvements in the State’s Power Sector, noting that billing and collection rates had steadily improved and that AT&C losses had dropped from 32% in 2019 to 17% in 2024. He thanked the Union Power Ministry for sanctioning additional households under the electrification program.