<p>Meghalaya, which is reeling under a power crisis for the past few days, may have to suffer more in the coming days as the water level at a key dam used in producing hydel electricity is at its lowest, Power Minister A T Mondal said.</p>.<p>The power generation may have to be shut down if the water level at Umiam Lake goes down by another foot, he said.</p>.<p>"The water level as of today is 3,165 feet. This is the lowest in the history of the lake. The lowest water level recorded was 3,170 feet a few years ago," Mondal told <em>PTI </em>on Tuesday.</p>.<p>Any hydel power project needs a minimum water level for generating electricity. The minimum level of water required for power generation at Umiam is 3,164 feet.</p>.<p>Built in the early 1960s, the Umiam reservoir is located about 10 km north of Shillong. The maximum water level of the reservoir is 3,210 feet (978.41 metres).</p>.<p><strong>Also read | <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/science-and-environment/meghalaya-cave-reveals-india-s-drought-records-of-past-1000-yrs-1146584.html" target="_blank">Meghalaya cave reveals India’s drought records of past 1,000 yrs</a></strong></p>.<p>A senior power department official said only 88 million units are available now in the state against a demand of 200 million units.</p>.<p>Another 35 million units from the Kopili stage I project are also not available due to a technical snag in the generation unit, and power supplies from two other plants in the state, have also been shut down due to low water levels, he said.</p>.<p>At present, several parts of the state are facing power cuts of up to 10 hours daily.</p>.<p>With the water level going down continuously, the minister said, heavy rainfall is required to increase it and thus save the people from power cuts in the days to come.</p>.<p>The Meghalaya High Court recently slammed the state government for its inability to take measures to address the power crisis.</p>.<p>Hearing a PIL, a divisional bench comprising Chief Justice Sanjib Banerjee and Justice W Diengdoh directed the state and Meghalaya Energy Corporation Limited to file separate affidavits outlining immediate, short-term, and long-term measures to address the problem.</p>
<p>Meghalaya, which is reeling under a power crisis for the past few days, may have to suffer more in the coming days as the water level at a key dam used in producing hydel electricity is at its lowest, Power Minister A T Mondal said.</p>.<p>The power generation may have to be shut down if the water level at Umiam Lake goes down by another foot, he said.</p>.<p>"The water level as of today is 3,165 feet. This is the lowest in the history of the lake. The lowest water level recorded was 3,170 feet a few years ago," Mondal told <em>PTI </em>on Tuesday.</p>.<p>Any hydel power project needs a minimum water level for generating electricity. The minimum level of water required for power generation at Umiam is 3,164 feet.</p>.<p>Built in the early 1960s, the Umiam reservoir is located about 10 km north of Shillong. The maximum water level of the reservoir is 3,210 feet (978.41 metres).</p>.<p><strong>Also read | <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/science-and-environment/meghalaya-cave-reveals-india-s-drought-records-of-past-1000-yrs-1146584.html" target="_blank">Meghalaya cave reveals India’s drought records of past 1,000 yrs</a></strong></p>.<p>A senior power department official said only 88 million units are available now in the state against a demand of 200 million units.</p>.<p>Another 35 million units from the Kopili stage I project are also not available due to a technical snag in the generation unit, and power supplies from two other plants in the state, have also been shut down due to low water levels, he said.</p>.<p>At present, several parts of the state are facing power cuts of up to 10 hours daily.</p>.<p>With the water level going down continuously, the minister said, heavy rainfall is required to increase it and thus save the people from power cuts in the days to come.</p>.<p>The Meghalaya High Court recently slammed the state government for its inability to take measures to address the power crisis.</p>.<p>Hearing a PIL, a divisional bench comprising Chief Justice Sanjib Banerjee and Justice W Diengdoh directed the state and Meghalaya Energy Corporation Limited to file separate affidavits outlining immediate, short-term, and long-term measures to address the problem.</p>