Manipur continues to sing power blues

Khelsoril Wanbe *

Generators: A common sight in Imphal used to supply power during 'load-shedding' time :: Pix - TSE

Despite grandiose promises made by different people in power, Manipur continues to reel under the spell of power starvation. Despite the fact that electric meter readers have been installed at most of the houses and prepaid system introduced, we're still witnessing and experiencing power crisis and disparity.

We continue to enjoy a minimal power ration of just few hours every day, without fail. It is sad to realise that all this is happening in the midst of ever increasing production of high-tech electronic appliances that are operated by electricity.

The world over, electricity consumption has increased many fold; ways and means are being sought for its conservation which has resulted in the invention of varied low energy-consuming halogen lamps, heaters etcetera. Despite all these endeavours, power consumption has simply increased and multiplied.

Electricity is no longer a luxury but a necessity as it is involved in running virtually everything that is modern. Industries of all hues and colours require electricity for their operation. Failure of electricity means failure of businesses. We can't imagine life without electricity in this ultra-modern world.

Another question that comes into mind is, "Is there really power disparity/inequality in our state?". If we are to go by the complaints we hear every now and then, the answer is positive. Are few people or cream of the society enjoying incessant power supply while the rest of teeming thousands are wallowing in darkness and misery?

The situation is indeed bad, but there might be reasonable reasons to explain the existence of this power inequality among the people, just like there are reasons for the persistence of economic disparity in our land. What we all need to do is think about finding ways and means to meet the ever increasing need of power supply and bring an end to this power inequality.

The next question that we can ask in our minds is whether power supply sans load shedding is something possible. The answer should be yes because this is what is happening in big cities, where power consumption is comparatively and incredibly high. How this is happening in those big cities is something over which our experts in this field need to grind their heads together.

Power cuts/ power breaks do happen in big cities but heavy daily load shedding like what we experience in Manipur is something too bad to be true; it is really sad that this is happening in this highly electrified world.

The ever increasingly funny joke that we are compelled to carry in our hearts is the fact that it is not few hours of load shedding that disrupt the power supply, but, it is few hours of power supply that breaks the so many miles/hours long load-shedding or rather world record breaking power-cuts. We can imagine what would happen if the same thing were to happen in big cities like so and so of the country.

When the news of 20 hours of daily power supply was heralded, the people of the state could hardly believe what they heard. There were doubts in the minds of many considering the situation that had been prevailing for a long time. But, for some time, there was some optimism following the increase in power supply by few hours during the day. However, clouds of doubts have again gathered over the land as the number of hours of power supply has suddenly dipped to the sea floor.

Perhaps, we should not lose all hopes. Some miracles may happen in the future, but we don't know how long before they happen. It's mind-boggling to imagine how much misery we are experiencing because of the ever increasingly erratic power supply. What is our position in the race of rapidly advancing human progress? How much hindrance has been caused by this power crisis? How are we managing our business in the virtual absence of electricity in this electronic age?

We the people of Manipur can only continue to sing the power blues and remain optimistic in the midst of the pessimistic power circumstances. The time might come when Manipur will enjoy a power supply that will be relatively much better than what is being currently experienced.

It's high time now to thoughtfully examine as to what has caused the seemingly insurmountable crisis and what could be its right solution. Maybe, some feasible solutions/projects have begun to appear in the illusive horizon, but the big question is how long before the real and present crisis is banished for good.

Grand power schemes and projects need to be executed expeditiously- with a strong sense of urgency and determination.