Power Reforms

Power Sector mainly consists of Generation, Transmission and Distribution. This sector as a whole is an industrial unit. The role of this Department in the development process is vital.The Government of India has drawn an Action Plan for a complete Restructuring of the Power Sector and pursuit for a Power Reform in the country. Main aim of the Reform is to make available quality power to all at reasonable price within a set time-frame. The Reform process of the Power Sector of Manipur is on.

 The Government of Manipur had appointed the Administrative Staff College of India (ASCI), Hyderabad on 19.1.2002 to provide consultancy services:

• to assess the restructuring options for the power sector
• to recommend suitable regulatory system for the power sector
• for financial restructuring of the power sector
• for formulating an implementation programme

The broad Terms of Reference for the assignment include:

1. Review the present configuration of the State’s Power Sector and assess its likely evolution over the next 20 years.
2. Identify and define the restructuring options that Government of Manipur should consider to implement for the power sector reform resulting in a regional and/or functional separation of generation, transmission and distribution entities with the option of corporatization / privatization.
3. Review the existing institutional and Regulatory framework governing power sector in Manipur at present. Identify the constraints in the existing framework to achieve the goals of Government of Manipur on the restructuring the power sector. Recommend an Independent Regulatory System for the State Power Sector.
4. Study the required changes or additions to the existing legislations / Laws and to submit Draft Reform Bill for putting up to the State Legislature.
5. Assess the demand for power supply in Manipur for the next 20 years, capacity planning, investment needs, pricing of electricity and financial restructuring of the power sector, so that the power sector would be commercially viable and financially sustainable.
6. Formulate and implementation programme defining priority measures and strategies to implement the reform process, so as to be acceptable to various stakeholders to have reform process is irreversible. Supervision of implementation programme will be done by consultants based on their experience for successful implementation under the Manipur conditions. The measures and strategies should achieve significant and visible results in the short term.

During the year under report, ASCI had relevant data and information. An Inception Report highlighting the approach and methodology for the assignment, time schedules and current status of the power sector in Manipur was prepared, submitted and approved. A High Level Committee consisting of the Chief Secretary, Government of Manipur as the Chairman, the Principal Secretary (Finance), Government of Manipur as the Member, the Commissioner (Power), Government of Manipur as the Member, the Secretary (Law), Government of Manipur as the Member and the Chief Engineer (Power), Government of Manipur as the Member/Convenor, was constituted for expeditious implementation of the Power Reform Programme. A Diagnostic Studies and Mid-Term Recommendation of the studies had been prepared by the consultant.