(Photo/Picture of Siasi Micro Power Plant, Puhpa Kunal, IAS, centre and Puhpa K. Laiva, right. Pic courtesy: Puhpa Kunal blog, link at the bottom).
SIAHA, April 5 (Samaw.com News) – Villagers at Siasi, an Indo-Myanmar border village near Mt. Mawma along River Kolodyne (Chhimtuipui) in eastern part of Saiha district have successfully built a Mini-Hydro Electric Plant on their own, currently capable of generating 3 KW; it is tipped to become a model for villages across Mizoram.
Siasi Micro Power Plant
The Deputy Commissioner (DC) of Saiha District, Puhpa Kunal, IAS, during his tour to the eastern part of the district had visited the site of the hydel project and have complimented the villagers for the power plant.
“My biggest joy was visiting to Siasi and seeing the running of Micro Hydel Power Plant,” he wrote in his latest blog update.
“Its a classical example of convergence and channelising the energies and concept into proper human use. Its a small plant right now with the generation capacity of only 3KW but with construction of another water tank, it can be raised upto 5KW,” he said.
“I was emphasising convergence from the beginning and thanks to Pu Laiva, a successful convergence model is achieved, he added.
Puhpa Kunal, who is also the Chairman of the district’s Backward Regions Grant Fund (BRGF) said, “We have included 3 such pilot plants and one convergence model for the next year BRGF (2010-11).”
Saiha DC also said that he had discussed this model with Pu P L Thanga, Member, State Planning Board and stressed a need for its study to raise its efficiency. “He instructed ZEDA to come to Saiha and study such projects. I feel they will visit soon in April,” he said.
“With proper planning and optimal use of existing resources we can do wonders and rightly it is happening in Saiha and our district is showing a workable model to the state,” the commissioner concluded.
Siasi is a village within Mara Autonomous District Council (MADC), it was founded in 1972 by the people of Chakhei who wanted to stay back near their vast rice fields along River Kolodyne also known as Beino in Mara, Boinu in Lai and Chhimtuipui in Mizo in Indo-Myanmar border. Today, there are about 50 houses in the village; Puhpa Laima Chozah, IAS, whose father, a native of Chakhei helped founded the village, is the most visible face of the village.
Siasi Mini-Hydel Project board members
(Photo/Picture: Siasi Mini-Hydel Project board members on a stone inscription).
It is remarkable that the villagers could build the power plant with funds raised by themselves. This could become a model for many other villages in Mizoram and across the country.
