Power crisis in Manipur: Is social capital the answer!

Rajendra Kshetri *

With the Electricity Dept unable to supply power, customer make do with a torch light while marketing at Khwairamband bazar in January 2012 :: Pix - TSE

Introduction:

If there are two English words which are on the lips of every Manipuri, irrespective of literate and illiterate, they are "load shedding" (or power rationing in government parlance). So common and so much in vogue that they have now become part and parcel of Manipuri lexicon. No data (official or unofficial) is required to drive home the point that power (electricity) scenario in Manipur is dismal, grim and pathetic. In this age of ever-developing electro-techno world, people need power for development and (more importantly) comfortable living. Manipuris are not exception.

Given Factual Scenario:

The Electricity Act 2003 envisages "Power for All" by 2012 with 5% reserve capacity. According to the National Electricity Policy, 2006, the per capita consumption of electricity is around 800 units at the national level (as against the envisioned level of 1000 units by 2015) while that of the state of Manipur is about 100 (or 140) units only.

Of the three sources of getting power, namely, own generation, allocated share from Central Sector Generating Stations (CSGS) and purchase from other sources, Manipur depends almost 99% on CSGS. This fact begs the question as to what went wrong with the Loktak Hydro-Electrical Project which was commissioned in the seventies with full of hopes and promises to give uninterrupted regular supply of power to the people. The utter failure of Loktak Project to supply even 8-10 hours of power, not to speak of 15-20 hours, is perhaps the main reason why people are now up-in-arms against the Tipaimukh Hydro-electrical Multipurpose Project. Not to mention the large-scale displacement of original inhabitants, huge environmental degradation, ecological imbalance and destruction of rare flora and fauna associated with such projects/dams.

The allocated share of Manipur from CSGA is 132MW against the peak demand of 180MW. But in reality, the average availability is around 80MW only. The unaccounted or rather the unutilized power in the tune of 52MW is lost or diverted somewhere. Again out of this 80MW supply of power, more than 70% of power is lost as AT&C (Aggregate Technical and Commercial) losses if we are to believe the data provided by the Joint Electricity Regulatory Commission (for Manipur and Mizoram) and we have no reason to believe otherwise.

This practically meant that only 37MW is available to the consumers (including unauthorized consumers) against the peak demand of 180MW. Added to this already grim/pathetic power scenario is also the fact that there is the commercial loss of around 40% of the available 37MW. What this meant is that only 24MW is available (read officially) for billing.

To put it short and for easy and better comprehension, it can be stated that Manipur utilized only 24MW for billing (read ostensibly) out of the CSGS allocated share of 132MW. Unbelievable but true. Nowhere in the country will we find such a case/scenario.

Where has the rest MW, 108MW to be precise, gone? How and why has it been lost/unutilized/unaccounted? Nobody bothers or seemed to bother, least of all, the consumers. Forget about the state's own generation/and purchase from other sources (which may be deemed as negligible given the fact that Manipur depends 99% on CSGS), the CSGS allocated share of Manipur, i.e. 132MW, if it is utilized/ made use of sincerely and efficiently, alone should be able to give regular uninterrupted power supply of 10-15 hours a day to the consumers as against the existing 3-4 hours a day (that too regularly irregular).

Something somewhere is terribly wrong. Rather, someone somewhere or somebody elsewhere is playing a cruel joke at people's expense. If this is not unscrupulous, shameless and irresponsible (mis) management of power, what is? It therefore needs no saying that the existing scenario in Manipur is a classic case of mismanagement. One wonders whether those officials/staff at the corridors of power are deriving some sort of sadistic pleasure.

Three Stake Holders:

Of the three stake holders (consumers, service provider and government), consumer has a high and most crucial stake. Therefore, the consumers should play a pivotal role in power management. To begin with, let us try not to be a party to the "blame game" played by the stake holders (consumers blame service provider/government and vice-versa). Instead, let us start thinking positive and act positive.

Firstly, consumers in any given locality (leikai) should interact (informally) at regular intervals (say twice a month) and share/discuss common issues/problems. Power is a common issue here. This, in the language of sociology, is called social interaction. This social interaction will help in building "Social Cohesion" which is highly essential for achieving common goal.

Secondly, a consumer must trust and tolerate another consumer. Trust and tolerance is very much required to build a sincere social relationship that permits co-operation among the consumers. Social relationship is the foundation on which consumer can build/create/establish a set of informal values, norms to be shared among the consumers.

Thirdly, once consumers interact and establish social relationship on the basis of trust, sincerity and tolerance, networks of voluntary associations/groups will automatically emerge among the consumers. This network of trust, sincerity and tolerance which leads to shared informal values and norms may be called, in the language of sociology, social capital (as distinct from the commonly understood 'capital').

Fourthly, consumers may/can initiate utilizing this "Social Capital" in terms of collecting and paying electricity bills, reporting unauthorized connection/lack of quality power, untimely interruption (load shedding) of power supply and (mis) uses of heavy power electrical appliances by individual consumers. In other words, social capital can be made/put into good and effective use/management by introducing 'community based billing' system. (This is successfully done at Mokokchung, Nagaland and to some extent Namdalong, Manipur). There is no apparent reason why it cannot be done in the rest of the state.

End Note:

Therefore, what is required on the part of the consumer is to establish/create social capital in every locality/leikai. This social capital, once formed, may be made available to the service provider/ government for better management of power supply in the state. Conversely, the service provider/government may make use of the social capital for efficient management of power supply.

To me, the formation of social capital in every leikai/locality is the first and foremost task before us. This will also help the three stake holders from blaming one another. This is not easy but at the same time not impossible.

The above text is the elaborated version of a speech delivered by the writer as Resource Person at the Consumer Awareness Campaign on "Electricity Regulation Act- 2003" held on January 6, 2013 at Yaingangpokpi Community Hall, Imphal East, organized by Department of Economics, Imphal College, Imphal and Yaingangpokpi Progressive Front (YPF), Yaingangpokpi.