Industrialisation key to solving joblessness: Biswajit
Source: Chronicle News Service / DIPR

Imphal, December 14 2021: Power Minister Thongam Biswajit Singh has stated that the solution to unemployment in any society is industrialisation and without power and energy we cannot bring industrialisation.

The minister was speaking at the closing ceremony of National Energy Conservation Week-2021 at Sangai Hall of Hotel Imphal here Tuesday.

The National Energy Conr servation Week 2021, organised by Manipur State Power Distribution Company Limited (SDA Manipur), commenced on December 9 under the motto "Conserve Energy, Save the Future".

Speaking as the chief guest of the function, Biswajit informed that the Imphal-Mariani via Kohima transmission line stringing has been completed and as such, there will be no shortage of power in the state.

Explaining the benefits of UJALA scheme, the minister said that under this scheme, LED bulbs and tube-lights are provided to consumers at subsidised rates to replace the incandescent and inefficient bulbs.

This has helped in reduction of power bills, saving energy, enhanced brightness and reduction in emission of toxic gases like carbon-dioxide, he added.

The minister then stated that the introduction of prepaid meter in the state has also resulted in energy-saving and further explained that since the prepaid meter is installed, consumers have realised that more usage of power means higher power bills and as such, wastage of energy has been reduced significantly.

He continued that if the consumers continue to use power efficiently, they will not only be able to reduce their own power bills but also contribute to conservation of energy.

Biswajit further highlighted that in 2017 the State's Aggregate Technical and Commercial (AT&C) losses was 45.6 percent, but it has been reduced to 20.5 percent now.

He also said that we cannot achieve the Prime Minister's vision of a 'Self-Reliant India' or 'New India' without making Manipur self-reliant.

He then highlighted the Prime Minister's idea of 'National Aspiration through Regional Aspiration'.

The minister also expressed a desire to see the two power companies becoming resourceful entities and take major roles in bringing development to the state.

In his message to the young students, Biswajit said that there can be no success without hard work.

We should imbibe positivity in our minds to succeed in life, he exhorted while urging for understanding our responsibilities towards the society.

The activities conducted during the National Energy Conservation Week including essay writing, painting competitions, cycle rally, etc., were meant for spreading the message of energy conservation, he conveyed.

In his speech, secretary (Power) Dr Shailesh Kumar Chourasia said that the National Energy Conservation Week is an important event for everyone.

He then urged the people not only to observe it for a week but try to incorporate it into our day-to-day life so as to bring about changes.

Dr Shailesh then remarked that although we cannot survive without energy, the question is how much energy we truly require for survival.

As such, energy should be used efficiently, he reasoned, while adding that by using less energy and conserving energy, we are, in fact, helping to conserve the environment.

Prizes of the painting and essay writing competitions conducted during the National Energy Conservation Week-2021 were also distributed as a part of the function which was attended by MSPCL managing director N Sarat Singh, MSPDCL managing director Ng Subhaschandra Singh and MSPDCL executive director (Technical) Hijam Shantikumar Singh among others.

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