DIMAPUR, AUGUST 9 : Since the past few weeks, residents of Dimapur have been suffering – sandwiched between scorching summer heat and endless power-cuts. In some locations, residents have had to go for two days flat without electricity.
That the mercury has been at its highest yet during this period has only served to deepen the misery of the people. The residents of Nagarjan and Notun Basti have had to deal with the worst, it would appear. At both the localities, power supply was cut-off for days.
The irony is that according to the annual administrative report of the department of power (2015-16), the period between July and October is when Nagaland receives surplus power during off-peak season. The surplus power is in the range of 20 MW, and is traded to other states.
Thus, for now there is no shortage in supply. According to SDO (E) No 1, Er Namheu Khate: “It is all because of the infrastructure.” During the periods when these two localities were without electricity for days, the power transformers at their respective sub-stations were burnt.
Between Saturday and Sunday last, 4 power transformers at Burma Camp sub-station were burnt. Another 3 power transformers were also burnt at the PWD sub-station. The defect at Burma Camp sub-station affected supply to Padampukhuri, Bank colony, Tourist Lodge and BSF Camp area.
Similar defect at PWD sub-station affected supply to Marwari Patti (where there is pre-paid system) and Notun Basti (Ao Khel). “All our conductors are overloaded and aged. But our greatest worry is for the safety of the public,” he told Eastern Mirror on Tuesday.
Moreover, the department of Power in Nagaland does not have enough spare power transformers. “We have only one repair centre for all the transformers in Nagaland. So we have to take loans from suppliers and replace the burnt ones.” This was when the residents had to go without power supply, because the department concerned had to run around in search of substitute transformers.
“Every year in July, August it is like this. But after August, it will be different. For now we cannot help it with the government giving us a meagre budget,” he said. In all the feeders, the conductors are overloaded, while their capacity remains below the required.
There are new sub-stations coming up at Sovima and Nagarjan which have been commissioned already. The Sovima sub-station will relieve the one near Referral Hospital while the Nagarjan sub-station will reduce the load for the one at Burma Camp, once they are operational.
Similar sub-stations have been proposed at Padampukhuri and Forest colony.
There have also been suggestions to increase the number of transformers in all the localities, rather than having “a large 500 KVA transformer that supplies to around 1000 population”, according to Khate. He cited the example of Fellowship colony in Dimapur.
There are 35 small power transformers installed in Fellowship colony alone. “There things are smooth and we don’t have problems because the power transformers are not overloaded,” Khate. This model should be applied in all the areas but for that we need proper funding from the government, he shared.
Meanwhile the department of Power, Nagaland on Tuesday informed consumers in Mokokchung town that the department has been making every effort, since the day the power transformer was damaged, to restore the power supply at the earliest despite being plagued by fund constraints to take up period preventive maintenance in all major electrical installations of the state.
A press release from the Chief Engineer (Power) informed that the damaged power transformer was being repaired at Dimapur central store and would take approximately 2 (two) weeks to be restored. “Recently, a team of manufacturer engineers (Crompton Greaves) were deputed to Mokokchung Power House to assess the quantum of repair works required to restore the defective protective equipment and devices. The required parts are being arranged on credit and restoration work will start immediately on receipt of the spares.”
It has appealed the citizens of Mokokchung to bear with the department till such time the system was fully restored.
