Shillong: SAI Computers is under fire. Local groups in Mawsynram, Dalu, Phulbari, and Nangalbibra demand the company lose its power distribution contract. They cite bad billing and shaky power supply as the main culprits. The Meghalaya Energy Corporation Limited already canned the firm's deal in Mawsynram.
The company fights back. They point to Dalu as a success story. Connections jumped 277 percent since 2019. Technical and commercial losses plummeted from 87 percent to roughly 17 percent. Power availability hit 23 hours a day. The firm claims it improved response times and added mobile payment options to help rural customers.
Operations in Mawsynram hit a wall fast. SAI took over in November, but local groups blocked their work. The company says it could not get a required license because the headman refused to meet them. Offices closed, meter reading stopped, and bills piled up. Despite the chaos, the firm claims they upped daily power supply by several hours.
The company also claims power theft played a role in the pushback. They found over 200 cases of electricity theft, losing 30 lakhs in potential revenue. A representative said, "There is a false narrative that their contract was cancelled due to issues with overbilling or lack of regular supply. The bottom line was that we never even got a chance to prove what we could do to improve the situation in Mawsynram area."
Company officials insist they deserve a fair shake. They argue that constant interference ruined their chance to stabilize services. An independent probe could settle if the complaints are real or just noise. For now, the firm remains at the center of a brewing political storm.
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