What Amounts to Regular Power Supply to the People of I.T Road

By: Thanggoulal Khongsai
The entry of Electricity in Manipur can be dated back to 1930 with the commissioned of two hydel sets having a capacity of 100KV and 56KV at Leimakhong by the then Manipur State HE Board. Gradually, it was only during the Second Five Year Plan(1956-61) that the State of Manipur saw a significant changed in the demand of Power in the State. Ever since from its inception, the demand for Power has been increasing and with the pursuing of Electricity Act, 2013, the then State Electricity Department Manipur(EDM) was unbundled and corporatized into two state owned independent entities i.e Manipur State Power Company Limited(MSPCL) and Manipur State Power Distribution Company (MSPDCL) w.e.f the 1st of February, 2014.
The former MSPCL (TRANSCOM) is responsible for the transmission line and power Sub-Station of Manipur power utility and are responsible for the management of 1) .440KV line 2) .132 KV (EHV) Extra High voltage line 3).33 KV line. Whereas, the later MSPDCL (DISCOM )mainly look after the distribution of power supply and are responsible for the operation and maintenance of 1) 11 KV line 2) 0.440KV line 3) 0.230 KV line 4) Service connection 5) Revenue Collection 6) Distribution of Transformers 7) Street light etc. However, despite with such a vast power and responsibility vested on the Company, the condition of Power Supply in the region of I.T Road is yet to meet its essential requirements and the frequent interruption of Power Supply only indicates the area not being prioritised; which is against the fundamental principle of the Company in the service of humanity.
Present Day I.T Road Power Condition :
Yes, there exist two Sub Stations in the area. The one at Gelnal sub station consist of only 6 working Staffs and the other is situated at Tamei. This two Sub station,11KV, supplies major areas of I.T Road and is maintained by DISCOM.
Given the present situation, it may be known that it is not reliable to carry out day to day activities with repeated power cuts causing on daily basis. Thanks to govt for the initiative to ease the living condition of the people, almost every households are now dependent of Power Supply to meet their working demands. However,  this of repeated  power cuts not only indicates the area being a neglected region but also indicates the quantum of concern authority’s apathy.
With the opening of Schools and establishment, day to day business begins to exclusively depend on electricity. There are number of students who couldn’t afford solar lamb for their night studies. Power Cuts become their burden of knowledge-gain and a new misery. Wood misty keep their work on hold for their livelihood. It is undeniable that, the region equally needs power supply as to that of the valley.
Meantime, the total number of 11KV consumers I.e both from Gelnal and Tamei sub-station could be close 1,500 in term of households or may be even more. Thanks to postpaid and Power subsidy from the govt, if I may correctly mentioned , that each household paid Rs 200/- as part of monthly power Bill irrespective of the quantity they consumed. This may be a reasonable amount for the people whose majority households’ economic and financial conditions are still below the poetry line. It may also be known that,  this minimum sum of Rs 200/- is still a far dream to arrange for many penury households of the areas.
Being located in a hilly tract, the region of I.T Road is not of easy reach from District Head Quater, Kangpokpi. Crooked and fill with multiple potholes everywhere, the condition of road is the main driver of delayed technicians and working staffs to rush to the spot in time whenever disruption or technical failure of power occurred. It is for this reason that the untrain locals who are not even well verse with electrical engineering or have no electricity background often risk their lives in the interest of public to resolve the electrical problems. Not realizing the hazard of electricity, they are not even provided with electrical kits and wears during their  search for line disruption or while their climb to the electrical post. This is the state at present where they locals are becoming unpaid lineman and untrain technician.
The Conundrum and the way forward:
Strictly speaking, it may not be a cakewalk for the Govt and concern authority to expedite in resolving the present pathetic Power condition of I.T Road as there exist multiple problems that deems it necessary to look at. For instance, the all round existing of high terrain in the areas where the input wire 33KV and output 11KV passed over the jungles, letting trees and bamboos an easy hit at the wires. This caused disruption of power often particularly during rainy and windy season. This highly exacerbated our power condition and can be overcome to minimum extend by stretching the wires across the side of the main road. This will in turn ease the hectic linemen during their search for line disruption and also added to their work efficiency.
Not to surprise, the number of human labours or working staffs is in shortage. As cited above, there exist only 6 Staffs at Gelnal Sub Station,  whereas the number may be less or same at Tamei sub Station. More surprisingly,  absent of Technician at the station is very much common throughout the year who are to deal with the technical issues whenever emergency or technical threat occurs. Also, there should be enough staffs and linemen from both 33KV and 11KV  department to operate on every working days. This may served the public the rights to get their efficient electricity without a day or more delayed of power cuts.
Over the past four or more years of operation of Electricity in the region, the installed post and wires have not been  replaced until today. Some of the existing installed old posts are in the verge of fall. They need immediate attention. There’s also a handful length of present stretching wires that are found rush and needs an urgent replacement. Having to ignored the present problems of wires and posts may not only disrupt the power condition of the area but also pose a grave concern to the people of I.T Road. In the meanwhile, lengthy of wires that are made to passed over the trees and bamboos are prone to hit wires during this season and thus, require vigilance efforts to keep the wire on checks.
Power being part of our most essential needs,  effort of providing efficient and uninterrupted power to public from concern department should be aided by regular payment of Bills. This will henceforth, ensure better and quality power supplies in the hills area of I.T Road.
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