Grappling with inordinate
power theft, Manipur has
planned to install
underground power distribution
cables in select areas. Once
completed, the north-eastern state
that is contending with power
losses of over 70 per cent, looks
forward to some respite. The
project is being undertaken under
the Union power ministry's
RAPDRP initiative.
While no senior official of
Manipur's department of power
could be contacted on phone,
Electrical Monitor got in touch with
the contractor, Kolkata-based Indo
Power Projects Ltd, for some inputs.
A project official of IPPL confirmed
that the company was executing
underground cabling works in some
areas, and also stated that the
company's scope of works also
extends to installation of
transformers and even pre-paid
meters, in subsequent stages.
At the moment, underground
cabling works is going on in areas
like Paona Keithel, Thangal Keithel
and MG Avenue. Such cables would
also be laid in the Greater Imphal
area, the IPPL official noted. By
current thinking, the cabling work
should be completed in the next
two months. Distribution
transformers that the contractor
has already procured and stored at a
place called Kanga will be installed
after the cabling works.
Meanwhile, Manipur's power
department is also planning to
introduce prepaid meters for
consumers in the Greater Imphal
region where power theft and
unbilled power is known to be the
highest. Manipur does not have
sufficient power generation capacity
within the state and has to rely
almost entirely on buying power
from neighbouring states, mainly
Assam. It is a difficult situation for
Manipur that is facing both power
shortages and gross underrealisation
of revenue. Laying of
EHV cables is likely to help as
"tapping" electricity becomes much
more difficult—indeed, almost
impossible—when compared to
stealing power from bare overhead
power distribution lines.
Manipur is also taking some steps
in improve its capability of
transporting power from
neighbouring states. Currently, two
transmission lines, Dimapur-
Imphal and Leimatak, are
responsible for the entire power
import, which is an estimated 80
mw. To facilitate higher power
transmission, the state is planning
to upgrade its existing 132kV
substation at Yurembam to 400kV.
During the upgrade process, power
supply to several parts of Manipur
is likely to be disrupted.
The prepaid meter proposal
though a welcome move would take
much longer than anticipated, an
industry analyst noted, as such
meters are only beginning to appear
on the Indian landscape. Urban areas
with a robust power distribution
network would be testing grounds
for prepaid meters before the
practice spreads to lesser developed
areas, the analyst observed.