NTPC asks Meghalaya govt to clear pending dues in 3 days

The PSU power firm had earlier sent a similar notice in August when MeECL had defaulted over 80% of the total payment

The country's largest power producer NTPC has asked the Meghalaya government to clear its pending dues within the next three days, failing which the company will regulate power supply to the state.

In a notice sent to the Meghalaya Energy Corporation Ltd (MeECL) yesterday, NTPC said it has received less than 15 per cent of the total dues for July and August.

This is the second such notice in as many months to the hill state. The PSU power firm had earlier sent a similar notice in August when MeECL had defaulted over 80 per cent of the total payment. However, it paid the amount later.

"Since MeECL has not fully paid the bills raised on August 6 and has defaulted beyond 60 days in payments of monthly bills...(so the) notice for regulation of power supply on MeECL is hereby given," NTPC said.

Earlier NTPC had raised bills amounting to Rs 10.53 crore and Rs 10.04 crore on August 6 and September 5 respectively for power supplied during July and August.

Till date, MeECL has released only Rs 3.05 crore. An amount of Rs 17.52 crore remains outstanding against the bill towards energy supplied during July 2013 and August 2013 to MeECL.

"Further, the LC of MeECL (valid till May 2014) available with NTPC has also not been recouped by MeECL after its last payment on May 31," NTPC said, adding, it will explore opportunities with other states, mainly in the Eastern and North Eastern regions, to supply the additional power that will arise after reducing the same to Meghalaya.

When contacted, Meghalaya power minister Clement Marak said: "I am not aware of this development. I have to find out from my officials. I have not been informed yet."NTPC supplies a total of 41.02 MW power to Meghalaya from four stations -- Farakka-I, Kahalgaon-I and II and Talcher-I.