Suggestions:

Solar Energy: This good old non-conventional source is becoming more and more efficient and viable by the day, thanks to technology. Proof of its success? Look at Thanlon of Churachandpur, said to be quite lit up at night, thanks to solar units doled out liberally by its former elected representative.

We can also just look at the number of homes in our towns using solar units – albeit very small ones - as a secondary source of light. (Interestingly, most got theirs by buying them off, dirt-cheap, from rustic beneficiaries who needed cash more than light).

Gobar Gas: Equally bandied about but, actually, quite suitable for rural areas. This form, however, has just not taken off. This is perhaps because of the dirty feeling associated with it, and the fact that, in the hills, not too many in a village keep cows.

Wind Energy: An advertisement of Vestas, a wind power major, proclaims wind energy as the ‘green power revolution' that can provide ‘clean, unlimited power' for ‘energy independence.' These proclamations are, like, made for Manipur and holds fantastic promise.

The stereo-type criticism that the tower and propeller units are huge and cumbersome to set up is but a red herring. For, if gigantic pylons with their valley-crossing cables can be set up in the most in-accessible of terrains, in comparison, the setting up of wind energy units - that too in established villages or towns - should be a cake-walk.

Most importantly, this is a very promising energy source for the many windy places that dot the hills of the state. There is then scope for each of these wind-powered villages soon enjoying ‘energy independence!' Picture that in a state that lives in its villages.

Micro-hydel Power: Electricity generated through these units has been very successfully set up in the remotest parts of Jammu & Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh.

For instance, beyond the Rohtang Pass, the Pangi Valley (that gets cut-off from the rest of the world for more than 6 months of the year), is today, Himachal's showcase for power self-sufficiency. This has been achieved through scores of micro-hydel power projects.

The icing on the cake is that the lives of its hill-folks have been forever changed through free power, courtesy the Himachal Pradesh State Electricity Board (HPSEB) and Him Urja - two organisations that have constructed numerous low-cost, eco friendly and need-based micro-hydel units. (Now, considering that Manipur's remote hill areas will, at best, continue seeing electric posts minus the wires, for a long time to come … perhaps, it is time for a Manipur State Hill Electricity Board).

Note:

While championing the alternative sources of power, this writer still remains an advocate of four smaller dams instead of one mega dam, primarily because hydro-electricity is cheaper. Also, he enjoys imagining the creation and development of four spanking new hill town-ships … complete with the un-heard-of electricity and piped drinking water 24x365, among other modern facilities.

He savours the thought of these modern life-hubs giving an all-round boost to the life and times of too-long-forsaken hill areas. He pictures the new crop of crore-pati-stake-holder-dam-affected-tribals flashing credit cards and e-investing in mutual funds and the share market ... from four hitherto middle-of-nowhere(s), and, not to forget, the controlling of floods in the lower reaches.

Having said the above, what it boils down to is that the seemingly costly but numerous smaller alternative sources of energy are, initially, meant to be a stop-gap arrangement, while waiting for the commissioning of the first of the four dams.

The waiting period and the shelf-life of these generating units would perhaps coincide. There is, of course, every possibility that newer technology could make the units so durable and viable that the four dams could export most of their generation and earn, and enrich further, both the state and our stake-holders-dam-oustees!

Finally:

This writer entrusts the responsibility and work of using the said alternative non-conventional sources of energy in the hands of our elected representatives.

It is they, and they alone who have the power, resources and the certainty of knowing, truthfully and exactly, where perennial mountain streams run in their constituencies (for micro-hydel projects); where the places are really windy (for wind turbines); where the sunshine is on the extreme side (for solar energy), and where the inhabitants traditionally own heads of cattle in large numbers (for gobar gas units) etc.

With their knowledge of the lay of their constituency, the resources at their command, and in the know – more than anybody else - about the special needs of their voters, it is hoped that the representatives take up the challenge. Of course, our representatives have to worry and be wary about two things, viz:-

(a) They must deal directly with world-class specialist manufacturers/makers/suppliers of the alternative power systems (e.g. Suzlon, No.4 in the world, and Vestas for wind energy or AAA Hydro Power Consultants, Alps Power Technologies (P) Ltd., Energy & Engineering Solutions etc. for microhydel power).

It is implied that they must never succumb to the idea of giving the nod to smart fly-by-night tender-specialists! The challenge should be taken up only through thoroughly professional and reputed companies, even if it costs more at first glance.

(b) They must rid themselves of their nagging fear of losing their vote-bank and workers, whom they've got used to thinking they can retain only by pampering and giving them precedence for culvert, drains or retaining wall contracts, piggery or ring-well schemes etc., usually at the cost of the truly deserving.

To quell their fears, the humble line of approach suggested is: It is time to recharge (not renew or discard) the old faithful voters and solid vote banks … by giving them what they never thought of asking and never got. This our MLAs could do by providing power and focusing on youth. And change lives forever.

Our representatives ought to know that today, the below-30 population is where the numbers are, and more than any other generation, this generation needs to be wired. Given the enormity, complexity and fiscal outlay involved, it is natural for our elected representatives to be the right persons to usher in an era of light and hope for their constituency's young (and old).

Hence the faith is reposed in them to do their duty towards the votes cast for them. If, unfortunately, they think they bought the votes and so plod on in their old ways, then they will have sold their future. They ought to be able to see that coming.

Consequently, catering to the future of the wired generation would help in getting rid of T2TYMD.

This writer looks forward to such riddance because he cannot, unlike SBKBT or B4U, enjoy T2TYMD.
It isn't even a serial, nor a popular channel! It deserves the boot, the quicker the better.

— Concluded