Power vital for industrialisation: Biswajit

Pothashang News Service: Imphal, March 12, 2018: The industrialisation process is not possible without electricity, said power minister Thongam Biswajit Singh, adding that the target to provide electricity to all households of the State by December 2018 is a commitment of the state government made to the people.

Minister Biswajit said this while attending the Ringui Luira Phanit cum Cultural Festival, 2018 at Ringui village in Ukhrul district on Sunday evening.

He also for inaccessible areas in the interior villages where installation of poles is inconceivable, power supply will be made through off-grid electrification by installing solar energy units.

He further urged village authorities and all concerned to identify households which are yet to get electricity and said that the Prime Minister of India has launched a scheme to provide free or low-cost electricity connections to such households. He explained that the scheme Saubhagya was launched with the mission to ensure that all households in the country have electricity by the set deadline.

Biswajit also explained various schemes including UJALA, Kisan Sampada, ZED – Zero Effect Zero Defect, Beti Bachao Beti Padhao, Sukanya Samiti, etc. and urged the people to take benefits of the schemes.

Biswajit Singh also inaugurated a 33/11 kV sub-station at Nungbi Khullen, Ukhrul district on Sunday.

Biswajit said the sub-station was aimed at providing quality power supply in the area. The villages to be supplied electricity from the sub-station are Nungbi Khunou, Nungbi Khullen, Kalhang, Kuirei, Awang Kasom, Chingai, Kongai, Wahong, Marem, Paoyei, Phungcham, Poi and Huishu.

He said before construction of the new 2×5 MVA 33/11 kV sub-station, electricity in the Nungbi Khullen area was supplied from Hundung 33/11 kV sub-station through long 11 kV lines incurring heavy system losses. He said owing to the length of the lines, there is considerable voltage drop at the consumers’ end.

Now, these drawbacks can be overcome with the installation of the new sub-station and power supply to the new sub-station will be charged from the newly constructed 132/33 kV sub-station at Hundung.

He said with the installation of the sub-station, power supply to the households in the area will be improved considerably with good voltage and subsequently applicable reduction in the losses.

Further reiterating that the government has set a target to provide electricity to all households of the State by December 2018 which is three months ahead of the national target, the Minister said that the government firmly believe that the government will be successful in meeting the target.

He said wind mill power generation will be soon taken up in the State and that seven locations have been identified where wind mill power generation will be taken up.

There are also several places in the state where mini hydro power projects, which could be used as tourist attractions, can be set up, he said adding that each project will generate 5 to 25 MW.

Manipur State Power Company Limited managing director N.Sarat Singh said the 33/11 kV Sub-Station at Nungbi Khullen is the 10^th such sub-station inaugurated by the minister.

The sub-station was sanctioned under NLCPR funding with state plan support. There will be considerable improvement in the voltage profile with the commissioning of the sub-station and the area of Nungbi Khullen will experience a very good quality power supply 24×7.