Shillong,June3: The ruling and the opposition MLAs from Jaintia Hills have come together on Thursday to oppose the move of the NPP-led MDA government to privatise the Meghalaya Energy Corporation Limited (MeECL).
The MLAs, Lahkmen Rymbui (UDP), Coming One Ymbon (NPP), Sniawbhalang Dhar (NPP), Kyrmen Shylla (UDP), Wailadmiki Shylla (NPP) and Shitlang Pale (Congress) held a meeting in Shillong and opposed the privatisation.
Later, Rymbui told reporters that the seven legislators of Jaintia Hills- both from the East and West, have opposed the proposed privatisation or handing over of the distribution circles of Jaintia Hills to any government or non-govt organisations from outside the state.
He added: “We are for the streamlining the working of the MeECL in reducing the aggregate technical and commercial (AT&C) losses but against handing over to any private or government organizations.”
The MLAs also opposed the proposed handover of maintenance and operation of Myntdu Hydro Electric Project which is in Jaintia Hills to private or government organisations from outside the state.
The MLAs will also meet the Chief Minister Conrad Sangma in this regard.
When asked what will be their response if the government goes ahead with the privatisation of the MeECL, Rymbui said, “We will bring this to the notice and we will see what the chief minister, power minister or the corporation will do to address the issue. We hope that our CM, power department and MeECL will listen to the voice of the people.”
Demand for Covid test centre
The MLAs have also decided to apprise the chief minister on the need to set up the RTPCR test centre in Jaintia Hills for COVID-19.
Corona care centre should also be set up in Jaintia HIlls besides Shillong and Tura, they said.
Rymbui said, “We want the government to expedite the setting up of the oxygen plant in Khliehriat CHC and also to strengthen the manpower and health facilities in the district to meet the urgent need in fighting this pandemic and also to provide sufficient oxygen cylinders to all the PHCs and CHCs across the region.”
