Despite visa row, remarks on Kashmir and cold vibes...
Chinese dynamos dispel darkness in Sadar Hills
Source: The Sangai Express

Selsi (IT Road), September 05, 2010: Inspite of the cold vibe between India and China, following a series of events recently, including deploying missiles close to the Arunachal pradesh border by China and the visa refusal to the GOC-in-C, Northern Command by Beijing and refusal of the Ministry External Affairs to grant permission the Kolkata based Chinese Consul General to Manipur, villagers on the Imphal-Tamenglong (IT) Road in Sadar hills had been relying on Chinese mechanism to lit their homes.

Blessed with natural streams, many settlements along the remote IT road have put up mini-hydel projects run on individual as well as community level, with dynamos manufactured by China being the main power generating device.

It is said that before the outbreak of the Kuki-Naga clash in 1993, IT Road villagers enjoyed power supply, however erratic it may be, but powewr supply this ceased as several villages were deserted and the then available facilities were damaged beyond redemption.

After enduring severe in-conveniences for years due to absence of power supply, the idea dawned on some that many of the water sources could be tapped to generate electricity, eventually leading to procuring Chinese dynamos and installing them along the streams.

Till date several tilted electric poles and snapped wires are visible in these areas.

A villager with the power generating Chinese made dynamo

Among the villages, Selsi is inhabited by about 80 households of the Kuki tribe and this settlement area has made significant progress in terms of power generation for the entire homes enjoy electricity without any apprehension of darkness after dusk, like almost every residential pockets in Imphal endure due to power outage or daily load shedding schedule.

Electricity in this village is self-sufficient for there are four power generating units installed in the nearby streams through Chinese-made dynamos.

Interacting with The Sangai Express during a recent visit, 38-year old Mangboi Kipgen said in the initial phase monetary contributions were made by family members of 12 clans settled in Selsi out of which a dynamo of 3 KV capacity costing Rs 9500 was purchased from Moreh about a year back.

Since completion of installation process, Selsi villagers have been enjoying uninterrupted power supply in between 5 pm till 5 am on a daily basis with the addition of three more power-generating units.

Moreover to regularise power supply, a care-taker has been appointed with the said individual's house provided electricity without any monetary subscription as levied from other villagers, an exuberant Mangboi informed.

As consumption level increased and the entire Selsi village could not be covered by a single power-generating unit, two individuals of the village volunteered to provide requisite cash for purchase of more dynamos for which every household is taxed a minimal monthly amount of Rs 50 each.

Through similar arrangements inhabitants of Songpijang, Kotlien, Songjang, Geljang, Bolien, Maodot, Holjang, Leishangphai, T Waichong, Gelnel, Joupi, Gelbung, Chalwa, Govajang and Theljang villages in IT Road areas are also enjoying regular power supply.