MANIREDA office sealed, director clarifies
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, January 17 2022: Several start-up entrepreneurs on Monday locked the office of Manipur Renewable Energy Development Agency (MANIREDA) located at Secure Office near 2nd MR complex, over non-distribution of the share for installation of roof top solar panels.

Meanwhile, MANIREDA has responded that the shares of the beneficiaries were not given as the Ministry concerned had not sanctioned the required funds.

Speaking on the sidelines of the protest, North East Power Infra proprietor Laikangbam Albert informed that that the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy had taken up a programme in all states for installation of rooftop solar panels.

According to PM Modi's vision, rooftop panels of 175 giga watt are to be installed by 2022.Manipur also received a sanction of 3-megawatt under this programme and MANIREDA invited the startup entrepreneurs in the state for this project.

As such, the entrepreneurs completed the installation project in 2020.Stating that the work was not a contract but done professionally by the emerging entrepreneurs of the state, Albert said that MANIREDA, however, turned away its head from giving the beneficiaries their share oh the pretext that the Ministry had not sanctioned the funds.

After multiple requests for giving out the shares were refused, the beneficiaries decided to lock the office as a form of protest.

The office will continue to stay lock until an amicable solution is reached, he added.

Albert then went on to say that the start-up entrepreneurs did not use their own capital to do the work of MANIREDA, but took loans from the banks for the purpose.

The present scenario, however, would make it impossible for the entrepreneurs to repay the loans, he conveyed, while denouncing the lack of positive response from MANIREDA on the matter.

On the other hand, MANIREDA director in- charge Wakrambam Suraj expressed regret over the act of locking down the office over non-distribution of the beneficiaries shares for the installation of rooftop solar panels.

He said that the local entrepreneurs were tasked with the work as a form of support and it is understandable, they are facing inconveniences due to the non-sanction of funds.

However, it is because the Ministry has not sanctioned the funds that the shares cannot be given, although documents for the schemes including UC were submitted to the Ministry in time, he added.

The director in-charge further informed that a scheme officer and a staff were dispatched to the Ministry in Delhi in November last to enquire about the delay in releasing the funds.

In response, tfie Ministry assured of releasing the funds.

MANIREDA is urging the Ministry to release the fund at the earliest, he asserted, while adding that the beneficiaries will receive their shares once the funds are sanctioned.

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