Imphal, January 23 2010: At least 10 villages located along IT Road in Senapati and Tamenglong districts would be seeing electric light very soon.

These villages had enjoyed electric power for three months in the post-independent era before the connection was cut off.

Manipur Renewable Energy Development Agency (MANIREDA) has conducted successful trial of a hydro-power project of 400 KW capacity at Gelnel.

The Gelnel hydro-power project was first taken up 17 years back.

The project was ready to be commissioned when it was vandalised severely in May 1993 during the Naga-Kuki ethnic clash.

The Government gave up the project completely when Gelnel river changed its course and subsequent blocking of a canal which should have served as source of water for the project following a flood in 2002 .

MANIREDA began re-developing the project with funding from the Ministry of New Renewable Energy since 2008 after it was abandoned by Power Department.

The project was a joint venture of the Gelnel village energy committee and MANIREDA.

Gelnel villagers provided labour for construction of the project while MANIREDA handled technical aspects.

Speaking to media persons, MANIREDA Director L Manglem said that trial run of the project conducted successfully today would continue for 10 days before it is formally commissioned.

Water released after generating power is being used for irrigation purposes.

Moreover, another project that would run with the water released from the existing project would be taken up.

Surplus power generated by the project would be exported outside Gelnel village, Manglem said.

Stating that power produced by the project can electrify at least 10 villages, the Director said that the project is to make the villagers self-supportive.

As distribution and transmission work would be handled by Power Department, MANIREDA has written to Power Department to initiate necessary measures in this regard.

To operate the power project, two villagers would be given training.

Gelnel village chief Thangsat Khongsai said that the village located around 100 kms away from Imphal was founded in 1928.He recalled that the village had electricity connection for three months before the Naga-Kuki clash from the project taken up by Power Department.

There was no electricity supply to the village before and after these three months, Thangsat said.

At present, the villagers are generating electricity from water flowing down from a gorge by using turbines bought from Moreh.

"In case the MANIREDA project proves successful, children would be able to study till late night.

Computer sets given by the Government to Gelnel Government High School now lying idle can also be operated by students', the village chief.

Comment