Power Shortage in Manipur: Hope Floats on Projects in Assam, Tripura

Imphal, Jan 29 : Faced with shortage of power perpetually, Manipur is keeping alive its hope of solving the problem once the two power projects being constructed at Bongaigaon in Assam and Pallatana in Tripura are commissioned and gets its share of around 90 megawatt.

According to an official source, the thermal power project being constructed at Bongaigaon would have a generating capacity of 750 megawatt.
On the basis of the respective share of power due to be received by each of the Northeastern States, Manipur hopes that it would get around 47 megawatt.

While from the Pallatana JB Power Project in Tripura, the State expects to receive around 43 megawatt as its power share.

Thus, from these two power projects which are being targeted to be commissioned 2011, Manipur looks forward to receiving around 90 megawatt to solve its perpetual problem of power shortage, the source said.

Over and above this, Manipur is also expected to receive its power share from the 600 megawatt generating capacity Kameng Hydro Electric Power Project and the 2000 megawatt generating capacity Lower Subansari Hydro Electric Power Project, the source informed, adding that with that there would be a great change in the scenario of power transmission and generation of Manipur by 2011 .

Receiving just around 31.6 megawatt as against the actual requirement of 80 megawatt during the peak hour, Manipur has been facing perpetual shortage of power.

But by 2011, this may become a thing of the past, the source reiterated.

The source further said that in view of the prospect of receiving around 90 megawatt from the power projects at Bongaigaon and Pallatana, there would be the need for upgrading the existing Silchar-Imphal 132 KV D/C line and 132 KV PGCI sub-station at Yurembam to 400 KV D/C line and 400 KV sub-station respectively.

Though around 25.4 acres of land required for the up gradation of the sub-station at Yurembam to 400 KV substation have already been acquired by the State Government long ago, the acquired land has not yet been handed over to PGCI.

Along with the acquisition of the land, the rate of the land compensation to be given is also to be worked out by the State Government and handed over to PGCI.

But all these have not been submitted till date, the source disclosed.

Without completing the necessary process for upgradation of 132 KV D/C Line and 132 KV sub-station in time before the target commission of the two power projects at Bongaigaon and Pallatana by 2011, the expected power share of around 90 megawatt that Manipur is looking forward to from the power projects may not be able to enjoy.

via The Sangai Express