Manipur Power Minister Thongam Biswajit Singh on Tuesday said that the solution to unemployment in any society is industrialisation.
The minister was speaking at the closing ceremony of the National Energy Conservation Week-2021 at Hotel Imphal, Sangai Hall.
The National Energy Conservation Week 2021, organised by the Manipur State Power Distribution Company Limited (SDA Manipur), commenced on December 9 under the motto “Conserve Energy, Save the Future” and concluded on Tuesday.
Speaking as the chief guest of the function, Biswajit said that the Imphal-Mariani via Kohima transmission ring stringing has been completed. There will be no shortage of power in the state, he said.
Explaining the benefits of UJALA scheme, he said under the scheme, LED bulbs and tube-lights are provided to consumers on subsidised rates to replace the incandescent and inefficient bulbs. This has helped in reduction of power bills, saving energy, enhanced brightness and reduction in emission of toxic gases like CO2.
He further said that the introduction of prepaid meter in the state has also resulted in energy saving and further explained that once prepaid meter is installed, consumers realise that more usage of power means higher power bills and as such wastage of energy has been reduced.
He continued that if our consumers continue to use power efficiently, we will reduce our own power bills as well as contribute to conserving energy.
Minister Biswajit further highlighted that in 2017 the state’s Aggregate Technical and Commercial (AT&C) losses was 45.6 percent, but it has been reduced to 20.5 percent now.
He also said that we cannot achieve the Prime Minister’s vision of a self-reliant India or New India without making Manipur self-reliant. He also highlighted the Prime Minister’s idea of National Aspiration through Regional Aspiration.
Biswajit further expressed a desire to see the two power companies as resourceful companies and take major roles in bringing development to the state.
In his message to the young students, Thongam Biswajit Singh said that there can be no success without hard work. He said that we should imbibe positivity in our minds to succeed in life. We should also understand our responsibilities towards society, he added.
He said that activities conducted during the National Energy Conservation Week including the essay writing, painting competitions, cycle rally, etc, are trying to spread a message to conserve energy.
Power secretary Shailesh Kumar Chourasia said that the National Energy Conservation Week is very important for everyone. He said we should not only observe it for a week but try to incorporate it into our day to day life so as to bring any change.
He said we cannot survive without energy, but how much energy is required is the question. He said we should use energy efficiently. When we are using less energy and conserving energy, we are conserving the environment, he added.
It may be mentioned that prizes for the painting and essay writing competitions conducted during the National Energy Conservation Week-2021 were also distributed.
Managing director, MSPCL N Sarat Singh, MSPDCL Ng Subhaschandra Singh, executive director (Technical) MSPDCL Hijam Shantikumar Singh among others also attended the function.
