Shillong, April 26: Meghalaya is reeling under a power crisis with the Meghalaya Energy Corporation Limited (MeECL) already resorting to load shedding in most parts of the state since yesterday.

Till today, the Shillong Distribution Circle and the Western Circle (Ri Bhoi) have been affected by the load shedding “in view of low availability of power from own generation as well as from central sector generation”.

The water level at the Umiam reservoir, which is the largest artificially created waterbody in the state and which also feeds five downstream hydro power plants of the MeECL, has also gone down considerably in the last few months.

In March 2013, the water level at the reservoir was recorded at 3,180.41 metres while in February, the level was 3,188.60 metres. In January, the level was recorded at 3196.86 metres.

In the past too, the corporation was forced to resort to load shedding in view of the persistent power deficit especially during the dry months.

Last month, while presenting the budget estimates in the Assembly, chief minister Mukul Sangma said, “The power scenario in the state is still a major concern of the government.”

The demand for power is above 600MW whereas the installed capacity in the state has gone up to around 310MW only with the commissioning of the three units of the Myntdu-Leshka Hydro Electric Project. The state receives another 210MW under central sector share.

“However, since most of the power stations in the Northeast are hydro based, the actual generation and availability is dependent on the monsoon, and there is always a gap between demand and supply,” Sangma said.

To address the power deficit, Sangma stated that steps were initiated to increase the generation capacity in the state sector through central PSUs and through projects under joint venture and PPP.

A memoranda of agreement with Neepco was signed for a 85MW hydel project at Mawphu and a 500MW thermal project in Garo hills while the New Umtru hydro electric project (40MW) is expected to be completed in 2014. Other power projects are also in the pipeline.