Imphal, May 28: Poor and irregular power supply has rendered the pottery machine and equipment installed by the Manipur Science and Technology Council (MASTEC) at Thongjao, Thoubal almost useless.

The equipment was installed in 2003-04 at Thongjao with the objective of increasing productivity by the use of mechanised pottery wheel, said Executive Director of MASTEC Th Surendranath while talking to The Sangai Express.

On the other hand, all the women potters of Thongjao were seen making pots in the traditional method and no one was seen taking advantage of the modern equipment.

They were found busy in making flower pots.

To a question on why they were not using the modern equipment which is less time consuming and more efficient, a woman potter replied that they are not adept in handling the machines apart from poor and irregular power supply.

Only four women potters were found inside the workshop where the MASTEC equipment were installed.

Even though they make pots of different varieties, as of now they were engaged in making flower pots only in accordance to the public demand, they said.

Even though a potter can make 60 pots in a day of different varieties ranging from Rs 4 per pot to Rs 100 per pot, they are unable to meet the demands of flower pots, they added.

When asked of any person adept in handling the machines, they disclosed that some trained potters have left their profession and joined Satjal.

The equipment installed at Thongjao include a powered potters' wheel model WA-1, a machine for preparing solution that is fit for producing china clay like products, Ball Mill 750 mm, 900 mm to make glaze solution, rotation wheel of 35 rpm and other accessories, dearing pug mill for meading earth, disintegrator with all accessories, universal jigger jolly to mould models, propeller type blunger with all accessories, a diesel generator set etc informed Th Surendranath of MASTEC.

To a question on the failure to operate the machines, the villagers noted that electric power is unavailable most of the time and the diesel could not be operated because of the high diesel price.

However it is reported that MASTEC is striving hard to find an alternative means to operate the equipment.

MASTEC's aim to produce pots in mass and to export to other states still remains a far fetched dream as there is no trained potter to make use of the modern equipment.

Notwithstanding the handicaps, MASTEC is planning to provide training to the Thongjao villagers under the sponsorship of the Union Ministry of Science and Technology so as to make them adept in handling the modern equipment, said Surendranath.

Another similar workshop with all the requisite equipment has been installed at Ukhrul.

However the same fate befalls here and still remains non-functional because of power failure, added the MASTEC executive.

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