Once a power surplus State Meghalaya is now turning into a power deficit state and people across the hill state are reeling under severe power outages. The Meghalaya Energy Corporation (MeECL) has announced that it has no other option than to resort to frequent load shedding to save power. The MeECL earned the ire of the public and lawmakers for its mismanagement in handling the power scenario of the state.    

The Corporation's woes began after it was formed by unbundling the Meghalaya State Electric Corporation Board in September, 2009, as envisaged in the Electricity Act, 2003. It has incurred huge debts over the years leading to its present state of affairs. None of the central public sector units are willing to supply power to the corporation unless its previous dues are cleared.    

The State government too severely criticised the functioning of the Corporation with Chief Minister Mukul Sangma asserting in the assembly that the government would not bail out the MeECL from its financial bungling unless it improves efficiency and stops lobbying for power projects. With no room to maneuver, the Corporation has resorted to daily load shedding in the state capital and elsewhere.