Shillong, March 17: Meghalaya is struggling to pay outstanding dues for purchasing electricity from outside and the bill has piled up to Rs 457.97 crore.

To a query in the Assembly today by United Democratic Party legislator Jemino Mawthoh, power minister Clement Marak said the Meghalaya Energy Corporation Limited (MeECL) has to pay North Eastern Electric Power Corporation (Neepco) Rs 375 crore including a delayed payment surcharge of Rs 125 crore.

Giving a break-up of the outstanding dues, Marak said MeECL also owes Rs 20.78 crore to the National Hydroelectric Power Corporation, Rs 8.6 crore to National Thermal Power Corporation, Rs 6.19 crore to Power Grid Corporation of India Limited, Rs 8.76 crore to Global Energy Private Limited, Rs 12.43 crore to ONGC Tripura Power Corporation, Rs 2.15 crore to Mittal Processor Private Limited, Rs 0.73 crore to PTC India Limited, Rs 0.71 crore to NTPC Vidyut Vyapar Nigam Limited, Rs 0.4 crore to Power System Operation Corporation, Rs 7.62 crore for unscheduled interchange and Rs 14.6 crore for wheeling change to Assam State Electricity Board.

When Mawthoh sought to know from where the MeECL will get the money to clear the dues, Marak said it would take loans, including medium-term ones, from financial institutions to clear the bills.

Marak said the state has asked the Centre to waive 60 per cent of the dues to be paid to Neepco. Mawthoh, however, feared that the power tariff may increase if a loan is taken. On the rate of interest that the MeECL has to pay for the loans, Marak said it was yet to be finalised.