Solar lamps gaining popularity
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, May 15 2010: After successful installation of solar lamps in the four valley districts of Manipur by the Manipur Renewable Energy Development Agency (MANIREDA), the State is witnessing an unprecedented demand for solar lamps.

Notably, Imphal is one of the 60 solar cities selected by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy from across the country.

MANIREDA started installation work of a limited number of solar lamps since March this year from the amount allocated to MAHUD Department under the head of State Finance Commission Award 2008-09 .

So far, 1700 solar lamps have been installed in different locations of the four valley districts.

MANIREDA is targeting to install a total 5736 solar lamps in 165 Gram Panchayats, 18 Nagar Panchayats and seven Municipal Councils in addition to Moreh and Jiribam townships.

Locals chat under the light of solar lamp

Each solar lamp comprises of a solar panel of 75 watt, a pole of 15 feet, one luminary bulb of 11 watt and battery set of 80 ampere.

These solar lamps are generally erected along road-sides.

At present, these solar lamps are being installed on experimental basis based on size of population.

In case this experiment of lighting streets with solar lamps proves successful, solar lamps will be installed along every street of the State.

Moreover, necessary steps will be initiated to make solar lamps available for domestic use, informed a source.

Claiming that solar lamps have been able to benefit some people of the State which is facing acute shortage of power, the source said difficulties faced by commuters during night due to power failure have been reduced to some extent in some places.

One Memcha, a vegetable vendor at Wabagai Keithel said that they were greatly benefited by the solar lamp installed at the market.

"Earlier, we had to spend Rs 5 at the least on buying candles to sell goods of Rs 50.Under such conditions, there were many days when vendors returned home without any profit.

"But with the installation of the solar lamp, expenditure on candles has become a thing of the past", Memcha said.

Wangoi Nagar Panchayat Chairperson L Babita said that solar lamps have been installed in nine wards of the Nagar Panchayat.

For these, people have been singing praises of the MANIREDA.

However, these lamps do not cover all the area of the Nagar Panchayat.

As such, there has been public pressure on Nagar Panchayat members, Babita said while appealing to the authority concerned to increase the number of solar lamps in the area.