Shillong, June 3: The legislators from all the seven constituencies in Jaintia Hills on Thursday came together to express that they are against the proposed privatization of the components of Meghalaya Energy Corporation Limited (MeECL).

“We the legislators from the East and West Jaintia Hills… we have decided unanimously that we are against the proposed privatization or the handover of the distribution circle of Jaintia Hills (of MeECL) to any other government or non-government organization,” Lakhmen Rymbui, the MLA from Amlarem, told reporters on Thursday after the meeting of the seven legislators.

State government has proposed leasing out the distribution circles of the Meghalaya Power Distribution Corporation Limited (MePDCL), an important component of MeECL looking after the power distribution, for 25 years to a company called RECPDCL. The areas proposed to be handed over to RECPDCL on lease are Shillong Central Distribution Circle – areas under this Circle includes the entire Shillong areas and adjoining areas under East Khasi hills District, and Eastern Distribution Circle – areas under this Circle includes the entire Jowai both Urban and Rural areas.

Rymbui, who is also the Home Minister, said the government should work towards streamlining the working of MeECL in reducing the AT&C (Aggregate Technical & Commercial) loss instead of handing it over to a private company.

“We are for the streamlining of the working of MeECL in reducing the AT&C (Aggregate Technical & Commercial) loss but not to hand it over to any private of government organization,” he said.

He also added that the MLAs are against the proposed handover of maintenance and operation of Myntdu Hydro Electric Project to any other party than MeECL.