By Yumlembam Albert
IMPHAL, January 11: In a quest to conserve energy, the world has turned its attention on various renewable resources like solar energy but in Manipur solar energy, though expensive is used as an alternative to manage the poor power condition in the state.
Autonomous government organizations like the Manipur Renewable Energy Development Agency (MANIREDA) has launched new initiatives to the aid of power starved people.
According to Yumlembam Kholchandra, senior scientific officer of MANIREDA, solar lighting systems of 25kw in some district hospitals of districts like Thoubal and Churachandpur and Moreh in Chandel. Moreover he added that these solar lightning systems are also installed in nine offices of the deputy commissioner apart from Tamenglong for their power backup. A Biodiversity Park at Jiri district is also provided with 200 tubes lights powered by solar power.
He continued “Solar power systems are installed in some places like Raj Bhavan, including 46 SDO offices, NIT campus” and added that solar lighting have been installed at police posts and outposts in joint initiatives with the police department. When asked about their contribution to the traffic lighting system by MANIREDA he said that high intensity street lamps of 100kw have been installed at the stretch of the Chekon-Hatta road.
Adding that solar water heaters have been distributed to over 3000 households, the senior scientific officer said that there is a low demand for solar lighting among the public. “Without subsidy, there cannot be a free flow of products in the market but due to budget limitations, the contribution of subsidy is reduced. Some products are available in the market but people cannot afford them as they are very costly,” he added.
There is a slow opening for consumers to buy solar energy products today as can be seen in the emergence of private agencies reaching out to consumers with various products.
A shop-keeper of a private agency dealing with electronics products who preferred to remain anonymous said “Selling solar products is becoming profitable as there are now people buying them keeping in light the poor power situation in the state.” A random visit to various other private agencies and their initiatives showed that various range of solar products are on sale in the market today ranging from flash lights, lanterns, water heaters and street lamps. The price of the products starts from a mere Rs700 and goes on to an astonishing Rs 26,000.
Y. Maphaja, a resident of Wangkhei who owns solar products agreed that they are useful for brief proposes only but are are very costly. He added,” The solar plate that we own costs us Rs18,000”.