Imphal, March 19, 2010: Not withstanding the chronic problem of consumers not clearing power bills in time, in case efforts being made by the State Government materialize Manipur is set for a marked improvement in the power distribution sys tem.

In sync with the ongoing effort of the State Government to ensure sufficient availability of power, the 132 KV Yurembam Power Sub Station of Power Grid Corporation of India would be up graded to 400 KV sub station for which priority is being given to connect the Yurembam facility with Silchar power station with stringing of powerline having capacity of 400 KV load.

According to an in formed source, upgrading Yurembam sub-station is unavoidable as certain percent age of power generated from the power projects of Bongaigaon (750 megawatt) and Pallatana (740 MW) would be provided to Manipur.

As current capacity of Yurembam power station is only 132 KV upgrading the facility is inevitable for which tender has already been floated to work agencies for stringing the 400 KV power line upto Silchar.

Informing that the work order would be issued within this month, the source said related works would commence from either April or May with the aim of completing the task ahead of completion of Bongaigaon and Pallatana power projects respectively set for 2011 and 2012. Another source informed that when the eighth meeting of North Eastern Regional Power Committee was held on January 12, 2010 the session not only approved upgrading Yurembam sub-station to 400 KV capacities but also that the facility would not be shifted elsewhere.

Confiding that up-gradation of the facility is under official process, the source said the State Government is very much confident of convincing (agricultural) land owners to part with their properties for the sake of overall development of Manipur when the compensation amount is worked out and made public.

It farther pointed out that in addition to shares from the Bongaigaon and Pallatana power projects Manipur would be receiving certain percentage of power from the 600 MW Kameng and 2000 MW Lower Subansiri Hydro Electric Power projects for which the emphasise is on upgradation of the Yurembam sub-station.

Apart from Manipur benefiting from the these massive power projects proper supply and distribution would mean overall improvement in the power scenario in the entire North East region, the source opined.

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