Wanna be power sufficient? Learn from Sadar Joute
Source: The Sangai Express

Sadar Joute, January 29: After the successful launch of a 5-mewagatt Multi-Purpose Pico Hydel Project as a joint venture by Manipur Renewable Energy Development Agency (MANIREDA) and the Village Energy Committee, the people of Sadar Joute village in Saitu Assembly Constituency of Senapati district do not have to depend on the erratic power supply of the State Electricity Department any more to light up their houses.

The remote village has indeed become a power-independent village.

Though Sadar Joute village falls within the jurisdiction of Senapati district and is located far from the district headquarters, this tiny remote village comprising of 34 households and a population of 188 people can be reached after traversing around 7 kms from Nambol or Leimaram.

Rice mill set into operation and water being drawn with the locally produced power at Sadu Joute

After setting up of the hydel project which can generate 5 megawatt, each households have been getting uninterrupted power supply, thereby becoming a thing of envy for the people of the neighbouring villages.

Taken up as a joint venture under the name of Atenglok Multi-Purpose Pico Hydel Power Project, the construction work of the project began in 2006 and MANIREDA had provided all the required machineries and materials while the villagers took care of the needed manpower and other needed substances lie sand, stone, etc.

The project was launched with the main objective of not only ensuring uninterrupted power supply, but also to provide irrigational facilities and help the villagers in grinding their rice.

The water from Acheng Lok are being drained through pipes and canal till the village where the power house is situated to generate power and supply electricity to the people of the village during night time.

During day time the project is being used for grinding the rice by the people apart from the utilising the water from the project to irrigate the paddy field.

Talking to The Sangai Express, chief of Sadar Joute Village Manglem Changsan expressed happiness over the new development and said that the electricity being provided by the State Electricity Department on load shedding basis is of no use to the villagers these days.

The project is self sufficient for uninterrupted power supply to the villagers and now they do not have to carry their paddy bags till Nambol or Leimaram to reach the rice mills, he said.

Moreover, the power generated from the project is also being used to light up 10 street lamps put up in different parts of the village during night time, he added.

With uninterrupted power supply, the villagers have started nurturing the hope of setting up processing units for extracting juice from pineapples which are grown abundantly in the village, the village chief said, while expressing gratitude to the SPF Government and MANIREDA for the changes brought about in the lives of the people living in the remote village.

Though yet to be inaugurated officially, generation of power by the project started since December 18 last year.

Thus, the villagers have reaped the benefits of uninterrupted power supply during Christmas and New Year celebration.

Interestingly, along with erecting electric posts and wiring, the village has been in the map of the Power Department where electric connection has been provided over 20 years now, but the villagers have never experienced uninterrupted power supply.

On the maintenance of the project, Manglem informed that Village Energy Committee has decided to charge Rs 5 per bulb as tax from each of the households and Rs 5 for grinding one Phoupot of Paddy as against Rs 20 that one has to shell out for grinding the same at the rice mill after the formal inaugural of the project.

The taxes, thus collected would be used for maintenance of the project.

The Committee has also opened a bank account in this connection, he disclosed.

Over and above the benefit of electricity, irrigational facilities and grinding of rice, the Project has also been providing safe drinking water to the people of the village, the village chief further disclosed, adding that the villagers keeping vigil over the project from any possible vandalisation.