The Loktak Hydroelectric Project, a vital power source for Manipur and the wider northeastern region, is facing serious logistical hurdles that are delaying ongoing renovation and modernization work, officials from NHPC Ltd. informed Manipur Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla during a high-level meeting at the Raj Bhavan on Monday. Gursharan Singh, Head of Project at NHPC and newly appointed General Manager (Electrical), met the Governor to brief him on the persistent transportation challenges hampering the timely delivery of large mechanical and electrical equipment essential for overhauling the decades-old power facility. According to Singh, difficulties in moving heavy machinery through the state’s hilly terrain and narrow transport routes have slowed down maintenance operations and affected the schedule for critical upgrades.
He added that NHPC engineers are working to strengthen maintenance protocols and improve the operational reliability of the hydroelectric plant, which remains Manipur’s key source of hydro-based power generation. Governor Bhalla, who reviewed the project’s status in detail, emphasized the urgency of completing renovation works on time to ensure continuous electricity supply across the region. He acknowledged the infrastructural and logistical constraints but urged NHPC to adopt innovative transport and project management solutions to overcome the delays. “Loktak is not just a power project but the backbone of Manipur’s energy security,” the Governor remarked, assuring NHPC of his support in facilitating coordination with state agencies where necessary.
In a separate meeting later in the day, the Governor also interacted with a delegation from the Indian Association of Tour Operators (IATO), led by H. Radhakrishna Sharma, State-in-Charge of IATO Manipur. The delegation highlighted the difficulties tour operators face in securing Protected Area Permits (PAPs) for foreign visitors — a process that often discourages international tourism in the state.
