Discussion on issue of electricity held
Source: Hueiyen News Service

Imphal, January 06 2011: The Forum Indigenous Perspective and Action today organized a public discussion session on the prevailing power supply situation in the state and its remedy at Imphal Hotel.

Officials of Electricity Department and intellectuals participated in the discussion.

In his speech, prof Amar Yumnam of Manipur University said that the present condition of electricity in the state is not the fault of the consumers.

He said that the department does not have a proper regulatory mechanism.

The department is not acting as a government agent.

It seems that the department does not know what are demand and supply.

The department is not supplying regular electricity to the consumers of the state.

Prof Amar said that the department seemed to have no proper policy to check its functioning, consumer complaints and maintenance.

If it has the proper policy, then the department does not have regulatory mechanism to implement its policy.

Instead of collecting taxes from the consumers, the department is using around Rs 10 crores every financial year from the annual budget of the state government.

Additional Chief Engineer-1, Electricity Department, RK Kishore said that the present condition of electricity in the state is due to the negligence from the side of consumers while paying taxes and illegal uses of electricity.

He said that the state needs 170 to 180 megawatts during the peak hour.

But the department is supplying only 90 megawatts.

State buys electricity of around Rs 11.5 crores every year.

On the contrary, the department collects only about Rs 1 crore in a year.

Kishore said that about 80 percent of the total electricity is lost either in transmission or illegal uses.

In order to cope up the problem, the department is planning to initiate prepaid system.

Chief Secretary also proposed to the Ministry of Power to buy additional power to cover up the shortage for the time being.

He also said that Manipur will not face the problem of electricity when the 400 kv power from Silchar reach Imphal and the Thermal Power Project of Bongaigaon is inaugurated.

Speaking in the occasion, Meihoubam Rakesh said that the employees of electricity department should do their duties under strict supervision for uninterrupted power supply in the state.

He said that the department is not supplying regular and edequate power supply to the public.

But the department is giving uninterrupted supply to the leaders of the state.

He stressed the needs of appointing ombudsman and creating Grievances Redressal Forum for smooth functioning of the department.

Lack of power supply is a major hindrance in the race of development in today's world.

Dr A Bimol of JN University, New Delhi who was the moderator of the session said that the huge amount of taxes due to the Ministers,MLAs and government departments are the major drawbacks of the government.

The session pressed the state government to publish white paper on the current electricity condition of the state and its remedy.

The session stressed the needs of utilizing civil societies, organizations, professional bodies in realizing taxes from the public.

The session also appealed to the media houses to take up initiatives to bring out public opinions and debates of the public regarding the issue.

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