Tora (Ukl), March 26: Instead of felling trees and wasting them in burning for shifting cultivation, the same fire wood can now be used for generating electricity, thanks to the development of science and technology and efforts for alternative source of energy.

The success of a 200 Kilowatt capacity Biomass Gasifire Power Project has brought not only light to every houses in Tora Village under Chingai Assembly Constituency of Ukhrul District but also smile on the faces of the villagers who for long have been depending on the sooty flames emitted from burning of Uchan chips to dispel darkness and light up their houses at night.

With sufficient power generation, efforts are also being made to sell and distribute the surplus power generated from the project to other neighbouring villages to earn extra income for the village.

A joint venture of Manipur Renewable Energy Development Agency (MANIREDA), Ukhrul District Community Resource Management Society and a Village Energy Committee set up in Tora, the Project has been taken up on public private partnership (PPP) with funding from the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy, Government of India.

Located along the Old Imphal-Ukhrul Road under the Chingai Assembly Constituency of Ukhrul District, Tora is a small hamlet having a population of 350 people comprising 47 households of Tangkhul community.

Blessed with the bounty of Mother Nature, the village is also rich in production of different varieties of fruits like Pineapple, Papaya, Guava, Gooseberry and Passion fruit.

Speaking about the project, chairman of the Village Energy Committee Varemung Phungsok said there has been no electricity in the village since he could remember.

In 1990, power transmission line was extended till the village but electricity has not been provided.

Before commissioning of the project, the villagers used to light up their houses at night either with Kerosene-fed Pudons or burning of Uchan and bamboo chips and people of neighbouring villages used to taunt them saying 'Tora is a village which does not have even three lanterns', Varemung recounted.

For construction of the project, the villagers have contributed physical strength and labour in levelling of the ground and other necessary construction materials like stones, timber besides working as labourers while the machineries and other requisite technical supports have been provided from the side of MANIREDA, Varemung informed, adding that to ensure smooth operation and longevity of the project, some forest areas have also been kept reserved.

The 200 Megawatt project was commissioned on December 24 last year along with supplying power at the rate of three bulbs in each household, thus the villagers had the never before experience of celebrating the last Christmas and New Year under the light of electric bulbs and tubes.

For generation of power to meet the requirement of the village, only 1 mon of firewoods is needed.

The firewoods required are also not timbers or Uchans but small twigs and dried branches which are normally discarded as useless, Varemung disclosed, adding that the firewoods required for running the project are being contributed from among the villager themselves.

For maintenance and appointment of two caretakers of the power project which has become an object of envy for others, the Village Energy Committee had collected taxes at the rate of Rs 10 from each household in January and February this year.

Since the power generated by the project is more than sufficient for the village, a decision has also been taken for selling the surplus power to other neighbouring villages like Maichon, Tora Changta, Tingshong and Chaphung so that extra income could be generated.

As there is sufficient power in the village now, it would be desirable on the part of the Government to make necessary measures for setting up food processing units, Varemung urged.

Interacting with The Sangai Express, 88-year old PS Thishanla, an elderly woman of the village, said that as long as she could recall the villagers have been depending on Uchan to light up their houses at night.

So the supply of electricity to the houses has make everyone happy.

First of its kind in Manipur, this enviable power project was formally inaugurated and dedicated to the villagers by MANIREDA Chairman and Additional Chief Secretary PL Thanga during a function yesterday.

Speaking at the occasion, PL Thanga said that the villagers themselves are the owner of this project which would give new hope and benefit them in many ways including setting up of food processing units and selling of the surplus power to generate more income.

MANIREDA Director L Manglem who was also present at the occasion explained that the main target of the project is to save forest as well as to provide electricity to the people.

So for the successful operation and maintenance of the project by the villager themselves, two persons from the village have been already imparted training after sending them to Baroda.

On the technical matter of the project, he informed that the electricity is being generated by the project with utilisation of 70 percent of the energy/gas emitted from firewoods and 30 percent from diesel.

So the quantity of diesel required for running the project has been cut down considerably.

Technical Co-ordinator cum Administrative Officer of International Fund for Agricultural Development and Joint Project North East Region Resource Management K Hrishikesh, who also spoke at the inaugural function, said that the project is one such successful projects that have taken up by IFAD in collaboration with other agencies.

Comment