Shillong, May 15: Meghalaya Power Minister A.T. Mondal on Thursday clarified the state’s efforts to address the power crisis in Garo Hills, particularly in Rajabala.

Responding to the criticism, Mondal emphasized that while challenges persist in Rajabala, significant progress has been made in other plain-belt areas like Phulbari and Tikrikilla. He attributed the delay in Rajabala to long-standing right-of-way issues that had stalled the completion of a critical substation project sanctioned in 2015.

He noted that despite repeated appeals, local cooperation was initially lacking. “Even in a Disha meeting via video conference, I had requested the Hon’ble member from Rajabala to help with securing the right-of-way. I personally met the Nokma of Balachanda village after several attempts. He eventually came to my residence, and with his cooperation, the matter has now been resolved,” Mondal said.

The minister confirmed that the long-delayed 33/11 KV substation in Rajabala, located in the Lalmati area, is now on track for completion by August. The substation is part of the North Eastern Region Power System Improvement Project (NERPSIP), sanctioned under World Bank funding in 2015. Once operational, it will receive power from the 132/33 KV substation at Chibinang.

In the meantime, recent upgrades to the existing substation at Hallidayganj have already brought partial relief, with parts of Rajabala now receiving more stable supply. Mondal added that Phulbari is currently receiving full voltage with fewer shutdowns, indicating improved infrastructure in the region.

Addressing concerns over prolonged outages, the minister clarified that earlier issues were widespread but have since been mitigated in most areas. “Rajabala still faces interruptions because it is served by an old, overloaded line from Phulbari,” he said, adding that a dedicated power supply from the new Chibinang substation will soon ease the burden.

He also urged residents to avoid unauthorized electricity connections, which can overload transformers and cause failures. “We are considering a local monitoring system through village committees to regulate motor usage, especially during peak periods like the eri cultivation season,” he said.

Mondal further reaffirmed the government’s commitment to ensuring reliable electricity across all regions. “It is not about my area or anyone else’s. My responsibility is to ensure balanced development from East to West, North to South. The suggestion that I’m apathetic to the plain belt is completely baseless,” he said.

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