The 1500 MW Tipaimukh Hydroelectric Project and five other projects are in the pipeline, Manipur Power Minister Th Biswajit said at the North Eastern Regional Power Committee (NERPC) commercial coordination sub-committee (CCM) meeting held in Imphal on Tuesday.
The 45th edition of the North Eastern Regional Power Committee (NERPC) commercial coordination sub-committee (CCM) meeting was held at Classic Grande, Imphal under the chairmanship of NERPC member secretary B Lyngkhoi, under the aegis of Manipur State Power Distribution Company Limited (MSPDCL).
The other five projects in the pipeline are 66 MW Loktak Downstream Hydroelectric Project, 190 MW Pabram Hydroelectric Project, 60 MW Irang Hydroelectric Project, 51 MW Tuivai Hydroelectric Project, 70 MW Nungleiband Hydroelectric Project, 67 MW Khongnem Chakha Hydroelectric Project, Biswajit said at the meeting.
The northeast particularly Manipur often face many challenges due to its geographical isolation, but it is also blessed with a vast hydropower potential which could contribute to the whole country towards its renewable energy goal, he said.
In terms of hydro power potential, Manipur has more than 2000 MW of power potential from Hydro Power Projects, he added.
The minister further said that 29 places have been identified for mini-hydroelectricprojects for 5-45 megawatt in the state. A consultancy process for the mini hydroelectric project has been completed, and a detailed project report (DPR) is in process. For such mini hydroelectric projects, the ministry will give 90 per cent and state share is 10 per cent, he said.
When all projects are completed, there will be no shortage of energy in the state and it will be able to generate power abundantly, the minister said.
“By December, pre-paid meters will be provided in every household of the state”, he added.
State principal secretary Rajesh Agrawal along with managing directors of MSPDCL and management of various central and state power utilities also attended the meeting.
According to an MSPDCL statement, the Loktak Downstream Hydroelectric Project is being developed through a joint venture with NHPC Ltd Power Purchase Agreement signed in 2019 and the project is expected to be completed soon.
The MSPDCL stated that in terms of commercial issues of Manipur, there is a pressing matter of the mounting outstanding dues payable to generating and transmission companies. The state has been facing lower revenue collection with the recent onset of COVID pandemic.
However, Manipur is targeting 100 per cent prepaid metering to all consumers by December 2022, which will bring in adequate revenue to pay the power purchase bills, it stated.
Must Read: Rekindling script controversy
The MSPDCL has procured 2 lakhs prepaid meters for the purpose and 80,000 pre-paid meters have been installed till date. To ease the burden of power purchase bills, costly power from 2 units of NTPC Bongaigaon Thermal Power Station of 34.40 MW has been surrendered which reduces around Rs 8 crore per month, it stated.
Also, there is the issue of supplementary bills, whereas central public sector undertakings such as NTPC, NHPC, NEEPCO, OTPC, PGCIL have raised their supplementary bills based on the approved tariff of CERC for past years, such additional cost is difficult to pass on to MSPDCL consumers as the state regulatory commission (JERC Manipur and Mizoram) has its own regulation in allowing the pass on the additional tariff to consumers, the MSPDCL stated.
According to MSPDCL, it has electrified all 2,582 numbers of census villages of Manipur with the completion of XII Plan Deen Dayal Upadhya Gram Jyoti Yojana. Through Grid in India, Leisang village under Kangpokpi district was electrified in April 2018 was the last census village to be electrified, it stated.
Must Read: Day Against Drugs
It may also be noted that according to MSPDCL, under XII Plan DDUGJY, DDUGJY New, SAUBHAGYA and IPDS Schemes, 1422 numbers of distribution transformers; 1798 kms of HT, 11KV lines and 2734 kms of LT Ariel Bunch Cables have been put in place.
Moreover, under SAUBHAGYA scheme, 1, 05, 867 numbers of un-electrified households were provided with electrical connection through Grid and another 3387 numbers with Off-Grid Solar Standalone System, thus providing electrical connection to all the willing un-electrified households of the state, according to MSPDCL.
It added that a lot of infrastructure addition and upgradation is being planned in the upcoming Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme (RDSS). It is an initiative of the ministry of Power, government of India to bring down the AT and C Loss to the Pan-India level of 12-15 per cent by 2025 and ACS-ARR Gap to Rs 0 per unit.
The inaugural function of the meeting was attended by chairman TCC-NERPC, Penrithung Yanthan; MSPDCL managing director Ng Subhachandra; MSPCL managing director N Sarat; NERPC director, SM Aimol; chief engineer power, government of Manipur, H Shantikumar.
Must Read:Peanuts for mental hospital
