SHILLONG: 10 May 2023 (PTI Source)
Meghalaya is currently facing one of the driest spells in its history, which has resulted in power outages in various parts of the state. Despite the efforts made by the state government to provide an uninterrupted power supply to the citizens, the situation is grim due to the lack of water in the rivers, which is essential for the generation of electricity. As a result, the citizens of Garo Hills are experiencing load-shedding for up to 8 hours during the night, leaving them with sleepless nights.
The Power Minister, AT Mondal, has informed the residents of the state that the load-shedding will continue until there is enough rainfall to generate electricity. He further added that the state is currently utilizing this time to repair the infrastructure that has been damaged due to the dry spell. He has also assured that the Ganol project in Garo Hills will be commissioned this year, which will provide relief to the residents in the region.
However, the residents of Garo Hills are unhappy with the load-shedding schedule that has been implemented in their region. They have called it 'senseless' and discriminatory. The citizens have questioned why the power department authorities have reduced the load-shedding times from 10 hours to 8 hours, making the situation even more unbearable for them. They have also raised concerns about their ability to sleep without electricity during the hot summer nights, especially after a long day of work.
One resident from Tura, AM Marak, expressed his discontent, saying that it is not reasonable to cut off electricity during the night when people need to sleep. Another resident from Phulbari, Peter A Sangma, criticized the authorities for discriminating against the citizens of Garo Hills and ignoring their needs. Several other residents have also voiced their dissatisfaction and called for a rethink of the load-shedding schedule.
The citizens of Meghalaya, especially those in Garo Hills, are facing a challenging time due to the lack of electricity caused by the dry spell in the state. While the state government is working to address the issue, residents are left with no choice but to endure the sleepless nights until the situation improves.