Solar power for Manipur hospitals

Imphal, Aug. 21 : Solar energy or wind-solar hybrid systems will power Manipur’s hospitals and deputy commissioners’ offices by mid-2012. Announcing this here during a function, Manipur Renewable Energy Development Authority director L. Manglem Singh said the solar energy systems had already been installed at Moreh hospital in Chandel district. The authority observed the day as the Renewable Energy Day to mark the birth anniversary of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi. A two-wheeler rally was also taken out here as a part of the programme to create awareness about solar energy. “The next hospital in line is Churachandpur district hospital. Installation of equipment at the hospital has already been completed. We have also carried out the trial run. It will be inaugurated by October,” Singh said. He said all the remaining five district hospitals in the hills would be covered by next year while nine offices of deputy commissioners would be powered by solar energy by June next year. He said the authority would soon take up another programme of providing 50,000 solar water heaters for domestic as well commercial use in the state. The authority has also powered 200 villages with solar energy. The villages, located in some of the remotest parts of the state, had been deprived of electricity as their remoteness made power supply difficult. The agency also honoured 110 students who excelled in the Board of Secondary Education, Manipur, examinations this year and last year by presenting them with a domestic solar energy lighting system each.