Chief Minister O. Ibobi has rightly said that state’s hydro potential is immense, which needs to be exploited to enhance power generation. He also said a change will be seen as the Government of Manipur has given thrust to increasing power generation. Nature has endowed the state with rich hydro potential but our problem is we do not have fund for taking up hydro based power projects. Fuel based and nuclear based power projects are very costly and the power generated by such projects will be very costly therefore we must go for hydro based projects only. Micro hydel power projects can be taken up at the hills of the state. The cost of the projects will be minimal. More over water is becoming scarce items in the state. This year the state faced near drought, when the monsoon arrived very late. The water thus stored by erecting small dams at the river at source that is at the hills of Manipur can be used in irrigating cultivable land during the lean season, when there is no rainfall. What is happening in the state is water simply flows out without being utilised. But hindrances in taking up hydro based power projects come up every now and then when we talk of launching such projects in the state. Such resistance has complicated the issue of power scarcity in Manipur. Our mind has to be clear and there has to be a clear understanding that the state cannot go for costly power project. Poor people will not be able to buy costly power generated by fuel based projects. Instances are not lacking heavy fuel power project, which was taken up despite opposition from experts against launching the project, is existing like a monument to prove thoughtlessly built structure is wastage of public money. Whoever responsible for installing the useless structure owes an explanation to the people as to what prompted them to take up the project? Their irresponsible action wasted huge amount of money that works out to billions of rupees. Chief Minister has also boldly stated that he held power department as a challenge to bring a change. This shows his commitment to improve power sector in the state. His words to increase power supply period from the present six hours to 20 hours a day is soothing to hear. The entire people of the state are waiting for the arrival of that day when we will get 20 hours uninterrupted power supply. When it will happen, this question is being asked everywhere whenever some groups of people sit at the hotel or at roadside. If that happens in the very near future the people of the state will hail the Congress Government particularly Chief Minister O. Ibobi for keeping his words and also for showing the commitment to do something for the state and its people. Roads can be constructed water supply can be improved. These are easy jobs, which can be done by engineers by spending some money. But enhancing power generation is mindboggling task. In a nutshell it is a gigantic task. Manipur had not seen addition of a single unit of power since the commissioning of Loktak lake way back in the late seventies. Yet we are hoping against hope that the power supply will be improved in the near future as the department is now looked after by the Chief Minister himself. Where there is a will there is a way.
Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/dismal-power-supply-and-a-solution/
