MANIREDA brings smile to Makhan village
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, December 30 2009: Bringing a smile on the faces of students who can now study their lesson late into the night under the electric light, a multi-purpose pico hydel power project with a generating capacity of 4 kilowatt has been inaugurated at Royal Ambassador Academy at New Makhan village today.

The power project has been constructed as a joint venture of Manipur Renewable Energy Development Agency (MANIREDA) and the management committee of the school to ensure uninterrupted power supply to the students of the private residential school located under Saitu-Gamphajol Block of Senapati district.

For implementing the pico-hydel power project, MANIREDA provided the required turbine while the expenditure for construction of the power house and other costs have been met by the school.

Water from the nearby stream of Keiram gorge in Koubru range is being harnessed for the project to generate electricity.

Apart from ensuring adequate power supply to the school, the project has been planned to light up 30 other households in the vicinity of the school campus as well.

Interacting with The Sangai Express on the sidelines of inaugurating the power project, president of Royal Ambassador Academy, James Dale expressed satisfaction that students studying in the residential school would now be able to study their lessons late into the night.

The 4 KW pico-hydel project

''Earlier, we were facing lot of difficulties in ensuring uninterrupted power supply to the students with the help of generator', James recounted.

''With no worry over electricity supply now, we would be introducing computer classes to the students of the school'', he assured.

Chairman of MANIREDA AN Jha, who attended the inaugural function of the power project as chief guest, had noted that in a State like Manipur whose land mass comprises mostly of hilly area, taking up more and more smaller power project for generating electricity would be beneficial to the people.

The project being inaugurated today has become successful because of the co-operation given by the people, he added.

Delivering the key note address, Director of MANIREDA L Manglem informed the gathering that Gelnel Hydel project and Chadong Hydel Project which are being taken up by the agency and can produced 400 kilowatt of power are also ready for commissioning.

Commissioner of Science and Technology A Ibocha, Director Uttam LC and Cold AS Oberoi of 57 Mountain Division were also present during the inaugural function of the pico-hydel power project.