MANIREDA lights up Ukhrul Villages
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, February 05, 2009: For the first time after Independence of India, the people of five villages in Ukhrul district located along the Indo- Myanmar International border, who have not expe- rienced power supply till date have every reason to smile as their houses can be lit up at night with help of solar home lighting system from now on.

Under the assistance of Manipur Renewable Energy Development Agency (MANIREDA), altogether 286 solar home lighting system have been provided to the people of Chatrik Khunou, Chatrik Khullen, Khayang, Kachouphung (T) and Kachouphung (K) villages which are located along border pillar numbers 122, 116 and 120 of the International border.

Ukhrul villagers living on the Indo-Myanmar border with the solar lamps presented by MANIREDA

The solar home lighting system were distributed today during a function organised by Ukhrul District Committee Resource Management Society at the conference hall of Tangkhul Theological Association at Ukhrul with Commissioner of Science & Technology and IT, R Muivah as chief guest.

Representatives of the respective Village Energy Committees who personally came to Ukhrul town after the villagers contributed money from among themselves accepted the presentations on behalf of the villagers.

Interacting with The Sangai Express on the sideline of the function, Ning Reusang, a villager of Chatrik Khullen which is located 60 kms from Ukhrul, said that presentation of solar home lighting system from the side of MANIREDA was so heartwarming that he felt the life span of all the aged villagers will expand.

He informed that there is a TV set given by the Government in his village but it has been lying useless all these years as there is no electricity.

�Now I am happy that we will be able to watch the TV�, he said excitedly.

to watch the programmes on the TV�, he said exultingly.

While informing that one Shaktiman has been hired at Rs 10,000 for the transportation of the solar home lighting systems provided by MANIREDA upto his village, Reisang disclosed that the villagers have contributed Rs 300 each for the purpose and in all 16 of them have come to take the lighting systems.

Headman of Kachou-phung DS Zimik said that as there is no motorable road upto his village, a jeep has been hired at Rs 3000 for taking the lighting systems upto Chamu.

�At Chamu, the people of my village would be waiting to carry the lighting systems upto the village walking 9 miles�, the headman informed, adding that in the absence of electricity, most of the villages light up their houses at night with Kerosene-fed lanterns.

Speaking at the function, Commissioner of Science & Technology and IT Ram Muivah disclosed that instruction had already been given to the district administration for providing list of the villages in Ukhrul district which are yet to get electricity connection for taking up necessary measures.

Director of MANIREDA L Manglem explained that the solar home lighting systems being provided is under the Remote Village Electrification programme and should be utilised for the stated purpose only.

Deputy Commissioner in-charge of Ukhrul district R Sudana presided over the function of distributing the solar home lighting systems.