State's share of electricity drastically slashed, more dark days ahead, non-payment of power tax alibi still stands
No answer why Electricity Dept slashed requirements in submission
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, January 11 2012: Even though Manipur is entitled to 122.87 MW of power from the total power generated by power projects taken up under North Eastern Electric Power Corporation (NEEPCO) and National Hydro-Electric Power Corporation (NHPC) in the North Eastern region, the State has been receiving only 32.8 MW during day and 80 MW during night.

A high ranking official of the Electricity Department informed The Sangai Express that most of the power projects, being hydel power projects, have been generating power much lower than their installed capacities as it is dry season.

On account of this, Manipur has been receiving power much lower than its share of 122.87 MW.

Manipur has been receiving its share of power from Kopoli I and Kopoli II Hydro Electric Power Projects (Assam), Khandong Hydro Electric Power Project, Agartala Gas Turbine Power Project, Assam Gas Based Power Project, Doyang Hydro Electric Power Project (Nagaland), Ranganadi Hydro Electric Power Project (Arunachal Pradesh), Loktak Hydro Electric Power Project and Tripura State Electricity Corporation.

With the Electricity Dept unable to supply power, customer make do with a torch light while marketing at Khwairamband bazar

Even though Manipur should be getting 122.87 MW of power from these projects, the State is getting only 32.8 MW during day time.

Out of the 32.8 MW of power, only 29.2 MW is available to the consumers as 3.6 MW is lost in transmission.

But the State requires 75 MW during day time.

During night, the State requires around 170 MW of power whereas it is receiving only 71 MW between 5 pm and 7 pm.

After 9 pm, the share of power received by the State is 90 MW.

North East Regional Load Dispatch Centre, Shillong in its record at 6.50 pm today has put the power supplied to Manipur at 103 MW, which is the State's share from all the generating plants in the North East.

It is said that Manipur's share of power has been slashed drastically due to decline in the power generated by power projects located in the North East region.

To make up the shortage, the State may purchase power from other States but it is reported that the State has no capacity to buy power because power per unit offered for sale is very costly, informed the official.

The State Government has been spending Rs 11 crores per month for purchasing power whereas Electricity Department can collect only Rs two crores as power bill in a month.

The deficit amount of Rs 7 crores was deducted by generating companies from source.

According to a RTI application filed last year it came to light that the Electricity Department had declared that power required in Manipur during summer in peak hours was 110 MW.

The same department however in its proposal sent to Shillong based Power System Operation Corporation put Manipur's requisite power during peak hours in summer at 90 MW which means there is a difference of 20 MW in the report and proposal furnished by Electricity Department.

Efforts to ascertain about this difference of 20 MW as detected in the department's report and proposal proved futile as the Chief Engineer could not be contacted.

Meanwhile, a press release issued by the Superintending Engineer, Transmission Circle, Electricity Department informed that 132/33 KV power sub-station of Ningthoukhong has developed technical snags which would require around 30 days for repairing.

On account of this technical snag, power supply to some areas of Ningthoukhong, Bishnupur, Churachandpur, Moirang and Nambol would be disrupted until the sub-station is fully repaired.