Power situation : CM banks on no loss, no gain mantra
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, July 09 2012: The State Government has been working on the 'no loss, no gain' formula in order to improve the power situation keeping in view the interests of both the people and employees of Power Department, stated Chief Minister O Ibobi who is also in charge of Power Department.

O Ibobi who is holding the Finance portfolio too tabled seven demands for due discussion and approval of the House today.

The demands were for community development and ANP, IRDP and NREP, Power, Youth Affairs and Sports, Minor Irrigation, Minorities and Other Backward Classes and Scheduled castes, Economics and Statistics and Information Technology.

Replying to suggestions and observations made by both Opposition and ruling Members in the course of discussing the demands, Ibobi informed the House that a public sector undertaking of the Government of India would come up with a suggestion within six months on which system would be best suited for power supply management in Manipur together with suitable means and measures for improving the power supply situation.

The Government would act on the basis of the suggestion keeping in view interests of both power consumers and employees of Power Department.

To the Opposition Members' observation like revenue collection was not satisfactory, there were no offices at convenient places for payment of power bills and there was no place for lodging complaints, Ibobi conceded that Electricity Department could not deliver bills or check meters in time due to shortage of manpower.

Stating that there is a need for replacement in order to avoid power loss in distribution system due to substandard or worn out infrastructure, Ibobi informed that power consuming street lamps would be replaced by more efficient LED bulbs in a phased manner.

The Government is also planning to replace the entire lighting system of Government institutes and hospitals by solar lamps with the help of MANIREDA.

The Chief Minister assured that maximum priority would be given to electrify remote villages of hill districts which have not been electrified yet.

There was no question of selling power purchased from power generating stations based outside the State but there were cases of energy inter-change, explained the Chief Minister further.

Talking about sports, Ibobi stated that the Government has been working to develop sports by inserting games and sports in the academic curriculum of classes I to VIII .

Due process has been initiated to award Rs two lakhs to boxing medallist Surbala.

Five per cent reservation has been made for recipients of Meritorious Sports Award for entry into Government services in the ranks of Grade III and Grade IV .

Cash rewards have been awarded to 10,144 outstanding sportspersons of the State from 1984 till date.

Regarding Minor Irrigation and CADA, Ibobi admitted the need to check the service conditions of work charge employees in the two departments.

For pensioners and old age pensioners, the Government is giving more attention on a system of distributing pension amounts through their own bank accounts by updating their details every six months.

This system can do away the fraudulent practice of misusing or manipulating photographs.

Even though Opposition Members put up motions of token cut, policy cut and economic cut, all the seven demands were later passed by the House unanimously.

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