MANIREDA gifts wind power hybrid project to Kotlen
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, November 05 2008: For the third time, MANIREDA has successfully installed an environmentally friendly Wind-Power Hybrid Power Project having the capacity of generating 10 Kilowatt of power along with the co-operation of the villagers at Kotlen in Sadar Hills of Senapati district.

The power project was officially inaugurated and dedicated to the villagers by Power Minister Phungzathang Tonsing during a function today.

The wind power project

The installation of the power project at Kotlen had started in November 2007 and it was completed in May this year.

Since then it has been put to trial run successfully along with supplying electricity to each and every household.

Expressing happiness over the inauguration of the power plant, chief of Kotlen village Dongyang Haokip informed that at the time of installing the power plant the villagers had provided the required land and also extended labour.

He further informed that in order to ensure smooth implementation and effective maintenance of the power plant, MANIREDA has constituted a Village Energy Committee and training imparted to two of the villagers.

Each of the household is being supplied 3 units of power and the Village Energy Committee has discussed collection taxes at the rate of Rs 50 every month from each of the household, the village chief added.

Addressing the gathering as chief guest after inaugurating the power plant, Power Minister Phungzathang Tonsing congratulated MANIREDA on completion of various projects taken up within such a short time while power projects like Khuga and Maphou Dam have not been able to be completed even after so many years.

Stating that the power project which has been inaugurated from today in the village has become the property of the villagers, Phungzathang Tonsing , who is also in charge of the Science and Technology, appealed to the villagers to take care of the project as their own personal belonging.

Chairman of MANIREDA PL Thanga who presided over the inaugural function pointed out that renewable energy is the only answer to the problem of power shortage in a State like Manipur.

Director MANIREDA L Manglem, who was also present at the occasion, said that though the Government of India has already announced to ensure power supply to all the villages in rural area within the next year, whether it would be possible in Manipur is questionable.

The power project which has been inaugurated today would remain as an invaluable asset of the village, he added.

Ex-Minister Ngamthang Haokip was also present at the function.

Prior to the inauguration of the power project, Minister Phungzathang Tonsing also visited to inspect the site for construction of a 40 Kilowatt capacity Micro Hydel Power Project at Sehjang village.