IMPHAL, June 19: Chief Engineer of State Electricity Department, N Sarat has refuted charges made in a vernacular paper alleging the department of selling off electricity to other states.
Talking to IFP, the CE stated that Manipur does not participate in power trading like the rest of the north eastern states. “If we trade in power, then it would require state sanction and other protocols; power trading cannot be done on a verbal agreement, it is amusing that out of gross ignorance, the department has been highlighted in the wrong light to the public”.
He said that the state purchases power from the NHPC, Power Grid, Tripura, NEEPCO of 30 megawatts. The power supply from the said companies to Manipur changes in every 15 minutes, according to the meager amount of power, the department allocates to the public on a roster system. The power generation also fluctuates naturally during the working daytime hours and at night. According to the ‘frequency’ of power, which inevitably has to vary, the tariff charged by the power companies also differ accordingly.
To streamline the irregularities and the payment mode to the companies, a mechanism referred to as the “Un-scheduled interchange mechanism” has been instituted since 2003; the mechanism maintains the discipline of the regional grid operation. “The unscheduled tariffs are open knowledge for the public, it is also in the website and can be cross checked by anyone interested”, he said.
CE Sarat also pointed out the allegation made in a vernacular paper that the Chief Minister has been duped by the department about percentage of power loss during transmission. “There are the Aggregate Technical and Commercial Loss (AT and C) and Transmission and Distribution Loss (Tand D) loss, it is unfortunate that without knowing the facts, misleading statements have been printed in the media”, he clarified.
Clarifying other accounts , he voiced surprise that the Leimatak-Karong (via Yurembam) power line is reported as being out of order and said that the line was fully functional, the electricity department is also not related with the workings of the power generation of the Loktak Lake, he said.
He appealed that the ‘Un-scheduled Interchange’ is a very technical issue and do not want to fling mud with the media in the regard.