Source: Manipur Mail
Imphal, January 29:
Over the years the beneficiary states of the north eastern region have consistently defaulted in making payment against energy supplied to them resulting in huge accumulation of dues the Asstt Manager (PR) of NEEPCO Ltd Shillong today said in a fax message sent here today.
Since its inception in the year 1976 NEEPCO has been striving to serve the people of the north eastern and make significant contribution towards improving the power scenario in the region it was pointed out.
At present 50% of the total energy requirement of the region is met be generation of power from NEEPCO power stations.
The government of India has introduced a scheme of securitization for clearing the past outstanding dues and huge incentives were offered to states that availed of the scheme.
However most of the states are yet to participate in the securitization scheme and continue to default in clearing even their current dues it further said.
All these have resulted in a severe financial crunch for the Corporation for the last few years and forced it to take loans at high interest rates even for meeting the O and M expenses of the power stations.
The Corporation has also defaulted in making payments against purchase of gar for its gas based power stations at Kathalguri and Agartala it was pointed out.
Due to large accumulated unpaid dues the supplier of gas are now regulating the gas supply to both the gas Based power stations resulting in loss of generation and worsening the power crisis faced by the region.
The situation has now come to such a state that NEEPCO is finding it difficult to run its power stations smoothly and continue the uninterrupted supply of water to the north eastern states was pointed out.