Imphal: Manipur has a total of 5.02 lakh power consumers out of which 3.34 lakh prepaid meters have already been installed and activated, said Manipur Power Minister Thongam Biswajit Singh, attending a video conferencing with Union Minister of Power and New Renewable Energy Raj Kumar Singh and Energy Ministers/Advisors of States/UTs to discuss the Revamped Distribution Scheme, Thursday.Â
The Minister attended the VC from his New Secretariat office.
Biswajit further informed the Union Minister that the State still needs around 2 lakh more prepaid meters to cover the remaining hill and valley areas to improve revenue generation.
Addressing the VC, Union Minister Raj Kumar Singh noted that the meeting is to discuss modernisation of systems to provide quality and reliable power supply to the consumers and reduce power losses.
After hearing a detailed report on the State’s performance in the power sector highlighted by State Minister Biswajit, the Union Minister commended the work and said it is an outstanding achievement.
Meanwhile, Biswajit appreciated the initiatives of the Union Ministry through which the States can modernise the system and improve the quality of power supply to the consumers and help in generating revenue for the State.
Regarding the ATC losses in the State, Biswajit stated that since the formation of the government, the State has been able to bring ATC losses to 20.27 per cent from 45 per cent in the past. We are targeting to bring it down to 12-15 percent by 2023-24, he continued.
Regarding the Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme, we have already completed the formation of the Distribution Reforms Committee (DRC). Preparation of Action Plan and DPRs is under process, he added.
Biswajit continued to state that the State had requested additional sanction for electrification of more households under the SAUBHAGYA Scheme and that the Centre had already sanctioned Rs.100 crore.
However, the State is requesting for rectification of the sanction order as the State needs more on the grid sector, he said adding that the sanction order includes Rs. 61 crore for Off-Grid and Rs. 39 crore for Grid sectors.
The Minister was accompanied by Power Commissioner Kh Raghumani, Manipur State Power Distribution Company Ltd, Managing Director, Ng. Subhachandra, Manipur State Power Company Ltd. Managing Director N Sarat among others.
