Shillong, May 17: Umiam reservoir or Dam, one of the most important hydro-electric power projects in the State, is in huge crisis as water levels are in constant decline due to delay in monsoon. The water level in the reservoir has receded rapidly affecting power generation.

Currently, the water level at Umiam reservoir stands at 3165 ft, recorded lowest in the history, said Minister in-charge of Power, AT Mondal while speaking to media personnel on Tuesday.

“There is a permissible limit of the water level in which we can run the unit, so if (it) keeps on declining for another feet, we have to shut down Umiam (hydel project),” Mondal said.

The Power Minister also stated that the government will continue with the loadshedding, with Tura and Shillong restricted to 8 hours of power cuts and other parts receiving 10 hours of power cuts.

He said normalcy is expected to return when rainy season begins.

Notably, the Power Minister along with experts from IIT Guwahati inspected the Umiam Dam on May 16. Mondal said the government is on the job to find solution to this issue and is looking to minimise the power cuts, and exploring all options required.

“As for long term measures, they take time. It is not like today we decide on a new power project and tomorrow it is set up, it is a long process. For the medium term, we have to look at the type of projects, it maybe hydel, thermal or any other source. So, we are exploring all those issues, and hopefully we are trying to minimise the power scarcity at the earliest,” Mondal explained on finding permanent solution to the power crisis in the State.