Solar to light up Imphal
Source: Hueiyen News Service

Imphal, January 18 2013: Even as the State Electricity Department has not been in a position to ensure sufficient power supply to its consumers, Manipur Renewable Energy Development Agency (MANIREDA) is all set to light up the city with solar lamps.

MANIREDA has successfully installed solar lamps in the heart of Imphal city under its Demonstration Programme taken up with funding from State Plan, 2011-12.The Demonstration Programme of MANIREDA is to the areas extending from Raja Dumbra High School to Minuthong via New Checkon.

Out of total 84 solar street lamps to be installed, installation of 47 solar street lamps has been completed so far.

Though the Electricity Department is learnt to have been entrusted to install street lamps in areas under the jurisdiction of Imphal Municipal Council (IMC), the said road stretch has been left unattended all these years.

So, under the Demonstration Programme of MANIREDA, provisions have been included for installing solar street lamps in such streets of Imphal where there are no street lamps.

Sources said that solar street lamps are maintenance free and they are planned for five years.

The batteries attached to the street lamps have a lifespan of 20 years.

These batteries are recharged from sunlight to produce power and lights up the streets during the night.

The whole process is done automatically through an automatic device.

The source further informed that if the Demonstration Programme of MANIREDA proves successful in these areas, the programme would be extended to other streets of Imphal and all the district head quarters of the State.

The process for the installation of the solar street lamps has been taken up with necessary clearance from MAHUD, the source said.

The source, however, clarified that the installation of solar street lamps being carried out along the streets of Babupara is not related with MANIREDA.

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