3.34L prepaid metres installed: Biswajit
Source: The Sangai Express / DIPR
Imphal, September 23 2021:
Manipur has a total of 5.02 lakh power consumers out of which 3.34 lakh prepaid meters have already been installed and activated, stated Manipur Power Minister Thongam Biswajit Singh during a video conference with Union Minister of Power and New Renewable Energy Raj Kumar Singh and Energy Ministers/Advisors of States/UTs today.
The Power Minister attended the video conference from his New Secretariat office and it discussed the Revamped Distribution Scheme.
Biswajit further informed the Union Minister that the State still needs around 2 lakh more prepaid meters to cover the remaining hill and valley areas to improve revenue generation.
Addressing the conference, Union Minister Raj Kumar Singh noted that the meeting was to discuss modernisation of systems to provide quality and reliable power supply to consumers and reduce power losses.
After hearing a detailed report on the State's performance in the power sector highlighted by Th Biswajit, the Union Minister commended the work and said it was an outstanding achievement.
Meanwhile, Biswajit appreciated the initiatives of the Union Ministry through which the States can modernise system and improve quality of power supply to consumers and help in generating revenue for the State.
Regarding the ATC losses in the State, Biswajit stated that since the formation of the incumbent Government, the State has been able to bring down ATC losses to 20.27 per cent from 45 per cent in the past.
"We are targeting to bring it down to 12-15 per cent by 2023-24," he continued.
"Regarding the Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme, we have already completed formation of the Distribution Reforms Committee (DRC).
Preparation of Action Plan and DPRs is under process," he added.
Biswajit continued that the State had requested for additional sanction for electrification of more households under the SAUBHAGYA Scheme and added that the Centre had already sanctioned Rs 100 crore.
However, the State has been requesting for rectification of the sanction order as the State needs more on the grid sector, he said adding that the sanction order includes Rs 61 crore for off-grid and Rs 39 crore for grid sectors.
The Minister was accompanied by Power Commissioner Kh Raghumani, Manipur State Power Distribution Company Ltd, Managing Director, Ng Subhachandra and Manipur State Power Company Ltd.
Managing Director N Sarat, among others.