Power deficit has affected the economy of Meghalaya: Dhar

Meghalaya Power minister Sniawbhalang Dhar today said power deficit has greatly affected the economy of the state and usage of renewable energy can reduce power consumption to a large extent.
"The main concern facing the state today is power deficit, which has greatly affected the economy of the state... Usage of renewable energy can reduce power consumption to a large extent," Dhar said while inaugurating an exhibition on Renewable Energy at Mawpat near here.
He said a lot of thrust has been laid on eco-friendly non-conventional energy.
Dhar said the government was aware of the importance of development of renewable energy sources to provide the state with sustainable energy and was committed to extend all support to on-going programmes of the Meghalaya New and Renewable Energy Development Agency (MNREDA) in development and promotion of renewable energy.

Power department principal secretary M S Rao said the state's dependence on power generation from coal and fossil fuel would not only take a toll on the environment, but would get exhausted early.
Globally, importance has been given to clean and sustainable energy that does not depend on exhaustible resources, he said.

Stating that there was a need to create mass awareness on advantages of renewable energy sources, Rao said it was also cost effective.
Lauding the exhibition, he said the exhibits and demonstration allow students to get a first-hand knowledge about usage of renewable energy and give them an opportunity to contribute in the development of renewable sources of energy.

A preliminary investigation conducted by MNREDA has indicated that the state could generate about 3,155 MW of electricity through non-conventional sources of energy such as bio-mass, Solar and wind energy, he said.
Meghalaya has a huge debt to the tune of over Rs 520 crore to be paid to the North Eastern Electric Power Corporation Limited and other Central Generating Stations as on March 2 this year, Dhar had told the state Assembly a few days back.