State targets power from renewable resources
Source: Hueiyen News Service
Imphal, January 07 2011:
Manipur Renewable Energy Agency (MANIREDA) is seeking to supply 5% of the power requirement of the state from naturally replenished resources like sunlight, wind, and water, said director of MANIREDA, L Manglem, today.
Speaking at an inaugural function of a wind-solar hybrid project at Sangkumai village, Senapati, the director informed that the country has set a target for extraction of 20,000 megawatt of power from solar energy under Jawaharlal Nehru National Solar Mission.
Manipur and Mizoram Joint Regulatory Commission is targeting to produce 2 percent of the total requirement of power supply in Manipur from renewable resources while MANIREDA is hoping for enabling to supplement 5% of the requirement, he said.
Asserting that the state is facing an acute shortage of power supply, MANIREDA is taking up various micro and macro projects for generating power from water currents of gorges, river currents, wind and solar energy.
So far, the agency has able to supply electricity to around 200 villages in the hills.
Out of 14 power generation projects in the current financial year, MANIREDA has able to complete and commission nine projects.
In Senapati district where there is high potential of power generation from renewable energies, till now, six projects have been commissioned.
Construction of a micro hydel power project, of a 20 megawatt capacity at Sekjang village on the New Cachar road has been completed and will soon be commissioned.
The project at Sangkumai village, inaugurated today, will able to provide light to the village for 14 hours a day, he said asserting that the project was constructed as part of MANIREDA's effort to light villages in remote areas which have no power supply.
The project is targeting to supply electricity to 40 households, he added.
The inaugural function held at the public ground of the village was graced by local MLA of Tadubi A/C, K Raina, as chief guest in which H Imocha, Commissioner of Science and Technology presided over.
Senapati DC Nidhi Kesharwarni attended the function as guest of honour.