Our Correspondent
Imphal, July 11 (EMN): Manipur Deputy Chief Minister Yumnam Joykumar Singh is ready to urge the 15th Finance Commission to allocate more funds for solar power generation in the state.
Deputy CM Joykumar conveyed his wiliness to urge the central authority while addressing at the inaugural functions of Grid Connected Roof Top Solar power Plant of 5 KW each installed at Epathoukok Cultural Complex, Lamphelpat and Samadon Shanglen at Uripok NingthoukhongjamLeikai in Imphal on Wednesday.
The day’s inauguration programmes were held as part of lighting up almost all areas under Uripok Assembly Constituency using solar energy. Seventy percent of the total cost of the Roof Top Solar power Plant meant for installation is borne by the government while the remaining 30% has to be borne by the individual or the institution who have applied for the installation and Manipur renewable energy development agency (Manireda) is the implementing agency in the state.
Deputy Chief Minister said, 45 sites, mostly public places like community halls, club buildings and cultural complexes have been identified and 33 power plants have been installed and started generation and the remaining installations works will be completed latest by this week.
Stating that Manipur being under tropical climatic conditions where sunlight is adequately available throughout the year, he said, there is a huge potential of solar power generation in the state and therefore a proposal will be made in this regard and will pursue to the 15th Finance Commission to allocate more funds.
He said, solar power generation is a renewable and useful concept rather than conventional power sources like thermal and nuclear which are non-renewable and hazardous to our environment.
He said being the cheapest and freely available power source; solar power generation can be developed in large scale in the state. Although small in size and population, Manipur has been experiencing huge demand of power consumption from time to time and it will increase further.
The share of power which we are enjoying from Loktak Hydro Electric Project alone cannot meet the requirements we have and therefore the government has been spending more than INR 400 crores annually in purchasing power from power grids.
