Kamjong villages yearn for basic power supply
Source: Chronicle News Service / R Lester Makang

Ukhrul, May 15 2024: While the Manipur government has proudly proclaimed the electrification of the entire state, a stark reality persists in Sahamphung sub-division of Kamjong district, with as many as 12 villages grappling with chronic power outages for years, despite having introduced prepaid meter connections.

The affected villages including Zingsui, Mapum, Shingcha, Maku, Yedah, K Langli, R Langli, Cha-hong Khullen, Chahong Chingthak, Chahong Phalung and Apong, rely on the 33/11 KVA Sub-Station (Shingcha) for their electricity, but have experienced erratic and unreliable power supply for years.

The matter was brought to the forefront during a press conference held on Wednesday at Sentinel College, Phungreitang in Ukhrul town by village chiefs and leaders, including Mapum VA secretary P Mayarngam, Thuingaleng Shaiza and Jurist Zimik of Maku, Chahong Khullen chief AS Yaomi, Chahong Chingthak chairman Liberty Jamang and Apong chief Manaen Singlei and others.

The village leaders highlighted the severe impact of the power disruptions on their everyday lives.

They stressed that electricity, an integral part of modern life and a basic necessity for any civilised settlement, is Woefully absent in their villages.

Despite the government's claims of successful electrification and the introduction of prepaid meter, the department concerned has failed to ensure a steady power supply, they contended, attributing the failure to a persistent lack of maintenance and repair.

Since the initial electrification efforts in the early 90s, there have been no proactive measures from the department to address breakdowns and upgrade the system, the village leaders continued.

This situation is further aggravated by acute under-staffing and inadequate infrastructure, they lamented, adding that the power supply to these villages relies on a single, overworked arterial line, manned by a mere two linemen - one permanent appointee, while the other is appointed on an ad-hoc basis.

Adding to the problem, no assistant engineer (AE) or section officer (SO) has been appointed to supervise the functioning of the substation and ensure smooth power delivery, they said.

Despite these challenges, the villages have consistently demonstrated a spirit of cooperation by providing volunteers, resources, and refreshments to support the power department.

These volunteers have even participated in arduous jungle clearance efforts to maintain the LT feeders, showcasing their dedication to securing a reliable power supply, they related.

However, these efforts have yielded little progress.

Despite weeks of repair work, the power often returns for only three days before another outage occurs, trapping the villages in a frustrating cycle of temporary fixes and persistent shortages.

Moreover, the dilapidated infrastructure has created dangerous conditions, with incidents of power shocks and accidents attributed to low-hanging naked HT and LT wires, and faulty equipment.

The residents appealed to the state authorities to address the situation by repairing and upgrading the power infrastructure, and by filling in the requisite manpower at the soonest.

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