Lungshang to preserve abandoned hydel project as village heritage site

Mungchan Zimik
Ukhrul , Apr 12: Lungshang village assembly have unanimously resolved to preserve the abandoned Lungshang Kong micro hydroelectric power station as the village's heritage site with immediate effect.
The decision came into effect after the reports of some vested individuals in the name of the Electricity department tried to intrude and stole the available installed machineries of the power station. The entry into the power station was eventually barred after the incident.
Headman, Secretary and VAs of Lungshang village inspected the abandoned hydel project site to establish the ground situation. Most of the machineries, equipment were all destroyed or stolen, covered with thick grass and bushes.
The headman of Lungshang village, KA Shimreiwung informed that the Lungshang Kong micro hydro electric  power station would be preserved as a village heritage site.
He elaborated the details of the project and stated that the State Government inaugurated the hydel project in 1985. The power station was constructed to produce electricity for Ukhrul,  Kamjong and Phungyar.
Three turbines were installed in the power station to generate electricity at the total capacity of 1500 Kilowatt for uninterrupted power supply, and was functional for a short period of about 3-4 years.
He mentioned that the project failed mainly due to the construction of substandard water reservoirs. The water stored in the reservoir was unable to supply the required amount to run the three turbines.
The Power shortage problem was hardly resolved during that time and the project was completely shut down by 1990 due to various technical failures. The main pipeline that supplied water to the three turbines leaked and destroyed the mini dam, he added.
In the subsequent year, the electricity office was also destroyed by fire along with all the related documents. No police case was registered against the fire incident, he added.
Lungshang village Secretary, Thotngachan Varam  expressed dismay against the department concerned for their negligence and stated that no maintenance work or intent to revive the project have been seen from the department so far.
He also mentioned that some individuals without any documents from the department or prior information came to the village recently to collect the machine from the power station. The villagers prevented and chased them away with stern warning.
Consequently, Lungshang  village assembly unanimously adopted the resolution to preserve and declare the whole area of about four hectare of land as village  heritage site and also to protect the area from encumbrances.
The abandoned Lungshang hydro project area would be developed into a tourism spot of the village and would be restricted for visitors to prevent intrusion, until further notice.