With an aim to curb the line loss incidents and to keep check on unauthorised electricity consumers in the Garhwal and Kumaon divisions of the State, Uttarakhand Power Corporation limited has decided to replace the high tension (HT) and low tension (lT) power lines with insulated Aerial Bundled Cables (ABC) over a distance of 2,115 km in various parts of the State.
Despite the fact the more than one-decade has passed since the formation of Uttarakhand, the line-loss is still considered one of the major hindrances for the department to meet with the demand of electricity in Uttarakhand. Officials said that Dehradun, Haridwar, Udham Singh Nagar and Nainital are among the districts that top the tally in terms of power theft.
Considering the demand of electricity that has been increasing year after year, the State power department has decided to install ABC in the State. Well established sources told that out of the total lines, ABC lines over 1871 km will be funded by the Union Government to the tune of Rs 631 crore under restructured accelerated power development reforms programme scheme. Under this scheme, 31 small towns are to be covered in the districts of the State with ABC lines. The Centre will provide 90 per cent share of the total cost. In the remaining 244 km area, the State Government will install ABC lines. The department had also installed ABC lines over 340 km in some parts of Haridwar and Vikasnagar. Under this new project, Dehradun will be included. Some more pockets of Vikasnagar, Rishikesh, Uttarkashi and Srinagar (Pauri) will also be taken up besides the 10-km stretch in Pauri and Tehri.
After confirming about the latest taken decision, AK Johari, Managing Director, UPCl said that it would be very beneficial for the department for curtailing line-loss incidents. He said that major problem of power thefts has reduced drastically with the installation of ABC lines in those areas where these were installed earlier. “People who were stealing power by taking unauthorised connections, popularly known as katia connection, from the general power lines are unable to do so now,” he said.