Hybrid power project adorns Lamdan
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, June 30 2009: In an apparent case of a trend setting example for State-public cooperation, the Manipur Renewable Energy Development Agency (MANIREDA) with active support of the local people has installed a wind-solar hybrid power project of 10 KW capacity at Lamdan village.

Lamdan village in Henglep sub-division of Churachandpur district is located above 1437 metres above mean sea level and is exclusively inhabited by Zeliangrongs.

Interestingly, the village is situated close to the Loktak Power Project.

The wind-solar power panel being set and the official team from MANIREDA and others at Lamdan village

Henglep A/C MLA and MTDC Chairman T Manga Vaiphei inaugurated the hybrid power project and handed it over to the local villagers.

The inaugural function was attended by MANIREDA Chairman AN Jha, Science and Technology Commissioner Ram Muivah and Registrar of Cooperative Society T Panmei as presidium members.

This is the fourth time MANIREDA has installed solar-wind hybrid power project at different remote locations of the State.

Earlier, similar hybrid power projects have been installed at Choujeng Lunghar in Ukhrul district, Chawangkining and Kotlen villages in Senapati district.

MANIREDA took up the project at Lamdan after constituting the village energy committee.

Some villagers were also given training to enable them run the project effectively.

Before taking up the project, Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology Bangalore, National Aerospace Laboratory Bangalore and Centre for Wind Energy Technology Chennai jointly checked the feasibility of the project at Lamdan.

Later, Ministry of New Renewable Energy, North Eastern Council and the State Government jointly took up the project at the cost of Rs 54 lakhs.

In addition to land, the villagers provided labour in executing the project, said village energy secretary G Athen.

The village used to get electricity from the Govt power line three days in a week for a few hours on each day, he added.

However, with the installation of the hybrid power project, the village has been receiving electricity round the clock.

Each household is now lighted by three electric bulbs besides installing street lamps.

It has been decided that each household should pay Rs 150 per month for using electricity from the hybrid project.

Moreover, the duration of electricity supply during summer and winter months has been fixed, Athen conveyed.

Speaking at the inaugural function, T Manga Vaiphei exhorted the villages to use electricity judiciously.

MANIREDA Chairman AN Jha that plans are afoot to install solar street lamps at district and sub-divisional headquarters.

MANIREDA Chairman Manglem exuded that MANIREDA would be able to make up 10 percent of the power deficit being faced by the State.