Chief Engineer assures improvement in power situation by Dec
Source: Hueiyen News Service

Imphal, June 10 2012: Chief Engineer of Electricity Department N Saratkumar has assured improvement in electricity condition of the state by December this year.

He was speaking at the closing day of a 2-day seminar on "Issues and Challenges in power supply management in Manipur" organized jointly by ALL Manipur Working Journalist Union (AMWJU) and Senior Citizens for Society at Manipur Press club, today.

He informed that at present the state is managing with 30 megawatt of power received from Loktak Project on daily basis.

The thermal power plant in Tripura will be providing another 40 megawatt of power to the state from December next.

With this extras power in hand, the condition of electricity in the state will be improved to a great extent.

The Chief Engineer pointed out that since the power to be received from Tripura is derived from fuel, the exact state share of the power would be received, and this could not be possible in case of power generated from water.

The Chief Engineer informed that the old and outdated electric metres which have been in use for the last 30 years would be replaced by electronic metres.

Around 1 lakh electronic metres would be purchased for the purpose, and these metres would be used in places where pre-paid power supply does not reach.

Fifteen thousand line 1 pre-paid metres which can hold upto 4 kw of power and 5000 line 2 pre-paid metres which can hold more than 4 kw of power would be used initially.

If successful, more pre-paid metres would be purchased, he added.

He further informed that pre-paid metres have been installed in Thangal bazaar, Paona bazaar, Khuyathong, Ragailong, Namdulong, Hapta Golapati, Palace Compouind and Lamphel areas and supplied of power started.

With introduction pre-paid system, consumption of power as well as revenue collection has increased at the time same.

Highlighting some of the problems in supplying power to the public, the Chief Engineer disclosed that 70 percent of the power being supplied is wasted partly due to insincerity on the part of the consumers and the officials of Electricity department.

THe Chief Engineer also assured that there would be no more VIP lines which supply uninterrupted power and electricity would be distributed to all the people equally.

For the betterment in power sector, the 33 KV power sub-station at Kongba would also be upgraded into 40 KV power sub-station.

A 33 kv power sub-station will also be installed in Kangla and Sangaishang.

Arrangements have also been made to provide electricity to BPL card holders, and the electricity bills would be collected with the help of private individuals, he added.

The seminar was also attended by Asst Prof Ch Ibohal of MIMS, Manipur University; K Achou, Secretary of Senior Citizens for Society and S Chaba, President of All Manipur Power Consumers Association.

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