Chandel, Churachandpur, Tamenglong health facilities get solar power system

Imphal: Manipur chief minister N. Biren Singh virtually inaugurated the solar power system for government health facilities of Chandel, Churachandpur and Tamenglong at the chief minister’s secretariat, here, on Thursday.

SELCO Foundation in collaboration with the Directorate of Health Services has solarised 68 health  entres across the three districts and provided them with energy efficient equipment, including a Radiant Warmer, Suction Apparatus, Spot light, Solar Direct Drive Vaccine Refrigerator and luminaries. The project is one of the 100 Action Points for 100 days of the state government.

Interacting with concerned officials of the three districts and representatives of SELCO Foundation, Biren appreciated the SELCO Foundation and government officials for successfully implementing the project. He added that with the implementation of the solar power system, 68 Health Centres across three districts would be having power supply round the clock.

Remote areas of the state has been facing irregularities in power supply due to the long rainy season and its consequences like landslides and floods. The government understands the problem faced by health centres in remote areas interrupting their services. As such, the government supported the proposal of SELCO Foundation to provide interrupted power supply through solar power systems, he said.

The chief minister stressed on the importance of proper maintenance of the solar power projects. He suggested that a person each should be assigned in all the 68 health centres to look after the solar panel and other components. Training should be provided to the person in consultation with SELCO Foundation if required, he added.

Biren also proposed CEO, SELCO Foundation Harish Hande, who attended the programme virtually, to cover all the remote areas of the state by the project and assured all possible support from the government side.

Chief medical officers of the three districts thanked the chief minister for coming up with the initiative to provide uninterrupted power supply to health centres and added the centres are now able to provide better health care services to the public.

Health and family welfare minister Dr Sapam Ranjan, chief secretary Dr Rajesh Kumar, additional chief secretary V. Vumlunmang, director, health services Dr K. Rajo and representative of SELCO Foundation attended the programme among others.