Imphal, January 22 2010: With Manipur experiencing the highest loss of power during distribution and transmission among the North East States, plans are afoot to stop this loss technically.

According to an official source, among the Northeastern States, Manipur suffers 80 percent loss of power in distribution and transmission, thus becoming the State with highest power loss in the region.

Meghalaya, which is in the second place, experiences only a loss of 36 percent of power during distribution and transmission.

Although there has been no possibility of plugging the power loss during distribution and transmission cent percent even at the all India level, a meeting presided over by Principal Secretary was held today to discuss ways and means of minimising loss of power in Manipur.

The meeting arrived at the conclusion that loss of highest power in Manipur during distribution and transmission can only be minimised through technical means.

Power theft through illegal connections and unwillingness of the consumers to pay taxes on one hand and not preparing the bills properly by the meter readers of the Department on the other hand some of the major factors for loss of power in Manipur, the source pointed out.

Informing that issues related to early completion of the works being taken up in connection with laying the power cable underground under the Jawaharlal Nehru Urban Renewable Mission were also featured in the discussion of the meeting today, the source observed that this step would help in reducing cases of illegal connection and power theft.

Today's meeting also deliberated on introduction of pre-paid electricity meters in Manipur.

However, the actual implementation of the project may take time as it would require to seek funding sources, the source added.

The source further informed that as most of the power projects in the Northeast region are hydel-based and their generating capacity has come down drastically due to shortage of power, Manipur is receiving only 31.6 megawatt of power during the peak hour.

Meanwhile, in view of receiving only 31.6 megawatt of power during the peak hour, SE Transmission of Power Dept has issued a statement informing the general public that the Dept would be constrained to resort to additional load shedding due to the reduction of power generation in the North Eastern grid.

The power generation has further come down to 31.6 MW from 80 MW, the statement added.

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