Manipur Deputy Chief Minister Yumnam Joykumar Singh on Wednesday inaugurated the third rooftop solar power plant installed at Basketball Ground cum Community Hall of Youth Club, Uripok Achom Leikai in Imphal.
Speaking on the occasion, Joykumar said electricity (power) has been an essential component of people’s life. He said with the increasing population, consumption of power has also increased from time to time. In such a situation, power generation from alternative sources like solar energy rather than hydro or other mineral resources should be made in large scale.
He said, rooftop solar power plants being installed at different places are an ambitious joint undertaking being taken up by MANIREDA with Manipur State Power Distribution Company Limited (MSPDCL) and it will help to reduce energy consumption from Power Grids.
The minister said under the project, 35 sites within Uripok constituency in Imphal West district have been identified for the first phase to install such power plants. Documentation and other related works for the 18 sites have been completed. Installation works at three different sites have also been completed besides resumption of power generation. Another 3-4 plants will also be installed in a few days.
On May 15, the second rooftop having generating capacity of 5 KW was inaugurated at office premise of United Club and Library (UCAL), Uripok Khwairak Selungba Leirak in Uripok constituency in Imphal.
These power plants will generate power from solar energy for street lighting has been installed by Manipur Renewable Energy Development Agency (MANIREDA), as a part of the ongoing solar energy generation project jointly undertaking with Manipur State Power Distribution Company Limited (MSPDCL). The plant has a capacity to generate 5 Kilo Watts of power each and will provide power to around 80 street lamps in the area.
Stating that such plants will generate power which can light a maximum of 70-80 bulbs in the area, he appealed to people to co-operate with this initiative so that street lighting at almost all areas under Uripok constituency in Imphal can be made possible without any extra charges.
The grid connected rooftop solar power plants is an ambitious project which can generate power for consumption and the excess power generated can also be sold to power grid, according to Director MANIREDA L Manglem Singh . He said the project with a life span of 25 years will definitely help to reduce power consumption from grids and also to generate revenues as well.