Ukhrul MLA seeks status of un-electrified villages
Source: Chronicle News Service / R Lester Makang
Ukhrul, February 23 2023:
With the inhabitants of five villages of the district continuing to reel under darkness, Ukhrul MLA Ram Muivah raised questions to power minister Th Biswajit Singh during question hour in the state assembly on Thursday regarding the electrification status of the villages.
In a starred question (133), MLA Ram Muivah asked whether it was true that five villages in Ukhrul district namely, Ronshak, Sahamphung sub-division HQ, Roni, Khayang and Phungtha are yet to be electrified.
In response, minister Biswajit said that the five villages have been electrified through off-grid mode by Solar Photo-voltaic module by MANIREDA since 2017-18 .
To this, MLA Ram Muivah contended that electrification of the villages through off-grid mode via solar was contrary to the facts on the ground.
He pointed out that he himself had visited the villages along with the RD & PR minister some months back and had witnessed pitch dark situation without power supply.
The MLA further stated that when they reached Khayang and Phungtha villages which are in the border region around 9-10 pm, the villagers welcomed them holding torchlight as there was no electricity or solar power.
Even public meetings could not be held due to darkness in the villages, he added.
MLA Ram Muivah further asked what steps have been taken up to electrify the villages and what is the timeline for its execution.
In his reply, minister Biswajit said that these villages are being planned to be electrified through grid mode and these villages are currently included in the DPR for a new upcoming scheme namely 'Electrification of Left-Out households Under RDSS' by MSPDCL and the scheme is yet to be sanctioned by the Ministry of Power.
In another starred question (137), MLA Ram Muivah raised a series of queries regarding the Ramrei water supply scheme.
He asked if it was true that the project is yet to be operational.
To this, PHE minister L Susindro Meitei responded in the negative.
Replying to other queries pertaining to the reasons for the inability to make it operational and the steps taken up to make it operational, the minister responded that the question did not arise.