Manipur Power Minister Th Biswajit on Monday stated that the state will generate its own power/electricity in the next two years and that the state would not depend on other states for the same.
The minister was replying to Congress MLA Meghachandra’s question on the deficit and buying of electricity on the floor of the House during the Question Hour.
Presently, the process of producing 300 megawatts from the Mini Hydro Electric Project is nearly completed, the minister said.
For the project, the Centre will provide 90 per cent of the fund and if the state gets from the World Bank, then the state will produce its own electricity, he added.
The minister also said that the Imphal Ring Road grid line is now completed and electricity can be connected from everywhere. So, there will be no issue of load shedding, he added.
Regarding the electric connection in hill districts, the minister said that there are about 2.2 lakh households with prepaid meters in the hill districts and of the 5.2 lakh consumers, 4.64 lakh prepaid consumers.
With regards to buying electricity, the minister informed that 100-megawatt power is generated during the rainy season but only about 70/80 megawatt during lean season.
Hence, the short supply and therefore, the state buys electricity from the open market at Rs 10 to 13 per unit, the minister added.
The minister, however, informed that the revenue from electricity is increasing day by day and the due amount of Rs 130 to 140 crore is reduced to Rs 65 crore.
In peak hour, the state requires 250 megawatts, the minister said, adding that pre-construction for the Loktak downstream project was completed though the project construction is yet to start. And in the pre-construction, the state spent Rs 65.5389 crore, the minister said.
