New Delhi, October 16 2008: "Without power, we will not achieve anything.

Be it industries or health care or water supply or any constructionsall depend on electricity.

Electricity is the most important essential commodity in our life, which can make life more comfortable and prosperous.

Economic growth cannot be achieved without electricity" Manipur Power Minister Phungzathang Tonsing has said.

He said that all virgin villages in Manipur would be provided electricity under Rajiv Gandhi Grameen Vidyutikaran Yojana (RGGVY) in the next few years.

Under the scheme, some reputed firms had started execution of the works in Chandel and Tamenglong Districts on Turn Key basis.

Target for completion of works was two years.

After completion of the scheme, it would be handed over to the State Government for operation.

The Power Minister further stated that as for Senapati and Ukhrul Districts, tender had been finalized.

For implementation of the scheme in Churachandpur, Bishnupur, Thoubal, Imphal West and Imphal East Districts, the State Electricity Department had issued the Notification Inviting Tender on October 9 recently.

The estimated cost of RGGVY scheme of Churachandpur District is Rs 9312.528 lakhs, Bishnupur Rs 1366.777 lakhs, Thoubal Rs 2864.110 lakhs, Imphal West Rs 2864.110 lakhs and Imphal East Rs 3299.039 lakhs.

The reputed firm or company having successfully erected, tested and commissioned a) transmission and distribution lines of aggregate route length at least 100 kms of 11 KV or above voltage class; b) at least two sub-stations or switch-yards of 33kV class or above having at least three circuit breaker bays; c) Installation of 11kV or higher voltage class Transformers and electrification work of High Tension and Low Tension, in the last seven years and which must be in operation satisfactorily for a period of two years as on date of application is eligible for execution of the works.

Phungzathang Tonsing said that besides these schemes, another scheme costing about Rs 99 crore was being taken up for power supply in Greater Imphal under the Accelerated Power Development and Reform Programme (APDRP).

Work order had been awarded to the tenderer quoting the lowest bid.

Under the programme, all the power lines would be laid underground.

The Power Minister appealed to all sections of people in Manipur to extend their fullest cooperation to the firms, engaged by the State Electricity Department, executing the works for its timely completion, in the State's interest.

If they were allowed to work without disturbance, it would be completed on time.

Let us see a very comfortable life when we have got uninterrupted power supply, he added.

"We will not have any problem on power supply in Manipur in future.

In the recent Power Ministers Conference held in New Delhi recently, it had been agreed to erect 400 KV lines from Arunachal through Kohima to Imphal and another 400 KV lines from Tripura through Silchar to Imphal, the Minister stated.

Tonsing further said that the actual requirement of power for Manipur is 160 Megawatt but the State receives only 80 Megawatt from all sources.

On the charge that the State Government could not provide electricity regularly to the consumers, he said that the consumers were not willing to clear the electricity tax.

The State Government is spending around Rs 9 crore monthly for procuring power from different sources.

However, the State Electricity Department can collect only around Rs 2 crore a month at an average.

The outstanding power tariff to be realised from the till date is about Rs 200, he informed.

During the current fiscal 2008-09, the State Electricity Department had targeted a revenue collection of Rs.70 crore, out of which the Department has been able to collect Rs 48 crore so far.

For collection of taxes, the State Electricity Department has also entrusted the local bodies by giving 10 % commission.

If anybody is found having unauthorized power connection, immediate steps had been taken up for its regularization.

The Minister felt that there was a need for taking up public awareness programmes extensively on the ongoing development of power sector in Manipur so that the public extend its maximum cooperation to the development.

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