Manipur targets installation of 100% prepaid metering system by Dec. 2022

Our Correspondent

Imphal, June 28 (EMN): The 45th commercial coordination sub-committee meeting of Northeastern regional power committee (NERPC) was held with active participation of the senior officers of the power distribution agencies and power generation companies in Imphal on June 28.

Manipur power minister Th Biswajit Singh along with Principal Secretary (power) Rajesh Agarwal, Member secretary B Lyngkhoi of NERPC and hairman TCC (NERPC) Penrithung Yanthan along with other officials attended the inaugural function.

Th Biswajit Singh in his speech lamented that the biggest challenge and problem the state faces is it has no sources thus buying power from generators. ‘We are buying at INR 5.21 (per unit) and selling at the rate of INR 5 only,’ he said.

Regarding the state’s potential he said Manipur has more than 2000 MW of power potential from hydro power projects which include 1500 MW Tipaimukh hydroelectric projects.

Regarding the prepaid metering system, the minister said that the state is targeting 100 percent installation and activation of prepaid metering systems to all consumers by December 2022.

The MSPDCL have procured 2 lakhs prepaid metre for this purpose and of these, 80,000 prepaid metre have been installed till date.

It may be noted that MSPDC have electrified all the 2582 census villages of Manipur with the completion of 12 Plan Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Gram Jyoti Yojana and Laisang village under Kangpokpi district was the last census village electrified in April 2018.

Meanwhile speaking to this reporter, Managing Director Ng Subhashandra of MSPDCL said that they are proposing to take necessary steps for the pending tariffs in 20 installments against the 12th installments.