Shillong: Meghalaya’s Power Policy 2024 is failing. Two years after its launch, key promises are missing. Residents still suffer through night-long power outages as the state struggles to fix its energy sector. The government policy admits that Meghalaya, once a power-surplus state, has become a power-deficit state.
Peak demand hits 423 MW for 2024-25. The state relies on expensive outside power to fill the gap. Despite holding 3,000 MW of hydropower potential, officials have harnessed very little of it. Power Commissioner and Secretary Sanjay Goyal confirmed the state has not created the planned State Power Trading Company. He stated, "The formation of the company is still under process as it is required to meet adequacy norms prescribed by the Central Electricity Regulatory Commission."
Meghalaya Energy Corporation Limited created an interim Energy Management Cell instead. No major Power Purchase Agreements for large projects exist. Developers are stuck in the paperwork phase. The government received four proposals for 3,800 MW of pumped storage hydropower and two 250 MW thermal plants. All remain under examination. No construction has begun.
The state signed agreements for two small hydro projects totaling 37.5 MW and the 270 MW Kynshi Stage-I project. It is also eyeing 63 MW across 12 small hydro sites via public-private partnerships. The dedicated investment portal promised by the policy never arrived. Investors must use the generic Invest Meghalaya portal instead. Major initiatives remain trapped in the planning stage while electricity shortages continue to plague the state.
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