Phungyar shines through MANIREDA
Source: Hueiyen News Service

Imphal, November 21 2011: Once living under perpetual darkness, Phungyar sub-division of Ukhrul district is today shining, literally, through the efforts of Manipur Renewable Energy Development Agency (MANIREDA) .

According to Headman cum Chairman of Village Energy Committee of Phungyar AS Shimreishang, among the various constraints that the people of the sub-division have learnt to live with for so long, power supply is one major problem that the people thought insurmountable.

Frequent failure of the grid power supply due to landslides, technical faults, load shedding with or without reason, has kept Phungyar virtually under complete darkness even though the sub-division has been declared electrified as per official record all these years.

In such a situation, one inconvenient truth that the people have been facing, apart from its prohibitive cost, is lighting the houses to dispel darkness at night without Kerosene or candles until commissioning of the Wind-Solar Hybrid Power Project of MANIREDA in 2009 .

Today, life in Phungyar has been transformed completely.

The project is providing domestic lighting to about 250 households from 5 pm to 10 pm everyday and employment opportunity to two locals as operators, the Headman informed.

The Headman further informed that after commissioning of the Wind-Solar Hybrid Power Project, significant improvement has been observed in the lifestyles of the tribal people living in the sub-division.

Owned and operated by the Village Energy Committee under the technical guidance of MANIREDA, the power project has proved to be good model of successful and sustainable project of public participation.

The Village Energy Committee is responsible for the day-to-day management of the project including collection of tariff on monthly basis whereas installation and commissioning of all the equipments, training on operating them and maintenance, etc is the responsibility of MANIREDA.

The power project has benefited the student community in their studies and the villagers can now pursue their respective housework and enjoy their dinner even after darkness, the Headman said, while expressing gratitude to MANIREDA for making the power project a success and giving a new lease of life to the people of Phungyar sub-division.

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