The Meghalaya High Court has observed that the state should make every endeavour to ensure that even if the need arises in future to restrict the continuous supply of power on account of any shortfall, the hospitals and like institutions are exempted, there is backup available by way of diesel generator sets for the hospitals and like institutions to run seamlessly and unaffected by power cuts.
The Bench of Chief Justice Sanjib Banerjee and Justice W. Diengdoh heard a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed to address the issue of shortage in the supply of power all over the State and what the petitioner perceives to be the arbitrary load-shedding schedule.
An earlier affidavit filed by the State has been dealt with by the petitioner and, according to the petitioner, no rationale has been indicated in such an affidavit as to why some areas suffered longer power cuts than other areas. The petitioner points out that even essential services, such as government hospitals, are not exempted from power cuts.
It is submitted on behalf of the State that in view of the adequate rains over the last week or so the Umiam waters have risen by as much as 10 feet, thus, allowing greater power generation.
The State has also been purchasing power from the National Thermal Power Corporation from or about the beginning of June, 2023. The State is also looking at purchasing power from the open grid to augment the supply available.
As to the uninterrupted supply of electricity to hospitals and the like, the State submits that by and large hospitals have been exempted from power cuts, provided they are connected by high tension feeder lines. It appears that even the Civil Hospital in Shillong does not have a high tension feeder line that caters to the entirety of the hospital. The State also said that North Eastern Indira Gandhi Regional Institute of Health and Medical Sciences has been spared of power cuts.
Apart from the fact that hospitals across the State and the healthcare centres need to be improved qualitatively with better equipment, more experts and greater facilities, the most elementary thing that must be ensured is the uninterrupted supply of power to such places as power is essential in running machines for patients on life support and, possibly, supply of oxygen , the Bench observed.
“It is hoped that with the regular rains in the recent times, the situation improves. However, there must be a plan B in place, which should be both rational and equitable even if power cuts are resorted to. The State’s status report should be filed before the matter appears next a fortnight hence. A copy of such report should be made available to the petitioner at least a day in advance”, the order reads.
Matter is listed on July 5, 2023 for further hearing.