Singda hydel project trial likely in Aug

Imphal, July 06: The Singda Dam Mircro Hydel Power Project which will harness 750 KWs of electricity from the dam is likely to be commissioned in August this year. The cost of the project which was taken up by the IFCD under the Central Electricity Authority has also been revised from the earlier Rs 248 lakhs to Rs 420 lakhs. The project will have three turbines each producing 250 KWs of electricity. IFC Minister N Mangi inspected the project site along with Sekmai AC MLA N Biren today. IFCD Div II Addl Chief Engineer and other officials also accompanied the Minister. The Addl CE K Ibotombi said the electricity will be generated by bringing down the water by a one cubic liter diameter pipe from the dam to the power house which is around 480 meters. The harnessed water volume will be used in irrigation purposes. The construction of the power house has been completed by 85 pc and all the required electro-mechanical parts have already arrived. The trial is most likely to be conducted in August, he said adding the project will be handed over to the State Electricity Department after commissioning. Stating 50 pc of the project cost is borne by the Ministry of Non-Conventional Energy, he said a State level committee with IFCD as the convenor and Power Department as the member is monitoring the project works. After the commissioning of the project taken up with the Allied Engineering Enterprises, Delhi as the agency, Kangchup, Phayeng, Kadangband, Kharam Thadoi and Ireng Kucha Naga villages will receive adequate power supply, said an official of the State Power Department. He said the full reservoir capacity of Singda Dam is 909.51 litres while the reservoir volume during rainy season is 975 liters. Even when only two turbines function due to the decrease in the water volume the project will have the capacity to supply power to all surrounding villages except Phayeng. The official further said supply can be extended upto Lamsang at non-peak hours. Commissioned in 1995, the Singda Dam Multipurpose Project has been supplying four million gallons of drinking water to the Greater Imphal areas. Besides, plans are also afoot to supply irrigation water to 2400 Hectares of crop land. The irrigation will start once the Command Area Development Authority and the Agriculture Department have completed construction of the canals. Earlier, the IFC Minister along with N Biren and other officials inspected points of Thumkhong Lok river, Sabungkhok river, Leimakhong river, Sekmai river and Maklang river which passes through Phayeng where the embankments are likely to burst when the water level rises.