IT News
Imphal, July 30:
Chief Minister N. Biren Singh appealed to the public to consume electricity and water judiciously and added that keeping such a habit of using only the required amount of electricity and water would help in preserving our valuable energy resource.
The Chief Minister was addressing the gathering at the State Level Grand Finale Event of Ujjwal Bharat, Ujjwal Bhavishya, Power @ 2047 (Bijli Mahotsav & Ujala Diwas) held today at City Convention Centre, Imphal as a part of the celebration of 75 years of Indian Independence. The programme was organised by the Power Department, Government of Manipur.
N. Biren Singh informed that the State Government purchased electricity from Power companies at Rs. 10 per unit for supply of electricity to the State. However, the State Government has been providing electricity to the public at the subsidised rate ranging from Rs. 5.50 to 6.50 per unit and as such an amount of around Rs. 350 crore is spent every year in subsidy, he added. The Chief Minister, therefore, appealed to the public not to waste electricity as a large amount of State’s revenue, an important factor for taking up development works, is drained out in purchasing electricity.
He maintained that the State Government had been putting in every effort to cover far flung areas of the State in all its infrastructure development programmes. He informed that those areas without electricity connection are provided power supply through off-grid power system adding that 68 Health Care Centres in Churachandpur, Chandel and Tamenglong had been facilitated with 24/7 power supply through solar power system.
Expressing satisfaction on learning that 4.10 out of 5.06 lakh power consumers had been brought under the pre-paid meter system, N. Biren congratulated the Power Minister and the employees of the Power Department for such an achievement. He further informed that procurement of another 2 lakh pre-paid meters is in process and the installation would be done by the year end.
Power Minister Thongam Biswajit Singh, while delivering his presidential speech, stated the Grand Finale Event was organised in four places of the State at Bishnupur, Churachandpur, Thoubal and the one at City Convention Centre, Imphal. He continued that the achievement of the Power Department was the result of tireless and dedicated efforts of its employees. Informing that the Central Government had come up with Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme with the objective to improve the quality, reliability and affordability of power supply to consumers, he expressed hopefulness that the Power Department would be able to maintain 24/7 quality power supply by improving the power system in the State under the Scheme.
Stating that interrupted power supply is very much necessary for the State to become socio-economically viable, the Minister informed that the stringing line for Imphal-Mariani had been completed and added the State can now bring in power supply from different states. As such, there would be no shortage of power supply in the State, he maintained.
It may be mentioned that today is the Grand Finale of the weeklong celebration of Ujjwal Bharat, Ujjwal Bhavishya, Power @ 2047 (Bijli Mahotsav & Ujala Diwas), which had been carried on across the Country in 761 districts including 16 districts of Manipur. The celebration is to reminisce about the progress made in the power sector over the last many years and how it has impacted the life of the people across the Country.
PHED Minister Leishangthem Susindro Meitei, Social Welfare Minister Heikham Dingo, MLA of Kumbi AC Sanasam Premchandra Singh, MLA of Patsoi AC Sapam Kunjakeswor Singh, MLA of Lamlai AC Khongbantabam Ibomcha Singh, Chief Secretary Dr. Rajesh Kumar, Principal Secretary (Power) Shri Rajesh Agrawal, Senior Government Officials, employees of the Power Department and beneficiaries also attended the programme among others.
