Nov 30 2010
Manipur Renewable Energy Development Agency (MANIREDA) has extended solar power to six remotely placed villages in Thanlon, sub-division of Churachandpur district in Manipal, India
The program patronized by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy, Government of India, has offered lighting for homes and extended street lighting facilities. The villages that are covered under the present initiative include Pangel, J Phaikholum, T Phaikholum, New Muntha, Tanguom, and Nathialbok. The villages are situated nearly 200 kilo meters away from the capital of the state Imphal.
The program jointly performed by MANIREDA and the village Energy Committees, has installed over 229 solar home powering systems and street lights in 21 places in all the six villages. The villagers were earlier lighting their houses by spending Rs.35/- per liter of kerosene, which was resulting in a huge monthly spending. MANIREDA has so far provided electricity to nearly 200 villages under its various power schemes such as, wind, solar, hydro, hybrid and biomass projects.
The solar power inauguration program of giving out solar lighting instrument to the villages was attended by a number of dignitaries, which include the local MLA (member legislative assembly) V Hangkhalian, Jacintha Lazarus, Churachandpur’s Deputy Commissioner and A L Manglem, Director of MANIREDA. Manglem requested the villagers to make the best use of the newly installed facility, unlike some of the villages where the provided systems were not utilized properly.