EMN
KOHIMA, JULY 28
Engineers from the state’s department of Power have registered their disappointment over the “meager” amount of fund the department has been allocated against the current fiscal year.
In a representation addressed to the Secretary (Power) government of Nagaland, the Association of Power Engineers Nagaland (APEN) stated that it is very disturbing to note that the state government has allocated only Rs 7.11 crore to the department i.e. 1.48% of the total untied State Plan Outlay against the department’s total projected requirement of Rs 140 crore during the current financial year.
It pointed out that the three main activities of the power department – generation (of power), transmission and distribution – were all dynamic in nature. “Its infrastructures require constant upgrade/development and capacity enhancement involving power transformers, distribution transformers, EHV lines, HT & LT Lines, including consumer servicing etc in order to keep pace with the load demand which stands at 10% annual growth rate.”
The power engineers also pointed out that the rise in “load demand” is predominantly because of increase in consumers, development and expansion of new areas, change in life style etc.
Without proper supply of electricity the livelihood of the people of the state will be adversely affected and would also bring discouragement to the entrepreneurs and the entire business community as well, they felt.
“While it is a fact that power department has other central sector funding from schemes like World Bank, NEC, NLCPR, IPDS, DDUGJY for development of infrastructures, yet these schemes are long term in nature and targeted towards the specific objectives of achieving 24X7 power supply and ‘Power to All’ in 5 to 10 years from now.” But to address the existing requirements, the engineers said, it is very critical for the state government to provide adequate fund under State Annual Plan.
“At the back drop of the recent plan allocation to the department vide Planning & Co-ordination Department OM no. PLN-24/2015 (Coord) Dt.09.07.2015, the Association members are of the opinion that the state government is not considering Power department as a priority department of the state for ushering all round development,” the statement read.
It also stated that the department has been all the while struggling for deliverance from the daily power failures and-outages due to breakdowns of Power line and Transformers. However, it lamented that the existing infrastructure and machineries, particularly in Dimapur, are all overburdened needing urgent upgrade of transformers, lines and upkeep of Sub-station equipments to avoid prolonged power outages.
Taking serious note on the meager and deficient fund allocation and its impact on the power supply system of the state, APEN further stated that under the present deficient fund allocation the department will not be in a position to restore power supply in the eventuality of major breakdown of machineries and equipments. It also warned that “worsening situation of power interruptions due to power line failures and transformer breakdowns is imminent.”
Therefore, in order to avoid suffering of the general public/consumers from prolonged power outages engineers have urged the state government to be “more realistic” with the allocation of fund to the Power department.
