The excessive load and shortage of electricity has been continuously bothering the residents in the Garhwal and Kumaon divisions of Uttarakhand.
Tripping of lines due to the excessive load during peak hours has become a regular feature in the State with distribution and transmission agencies blaming each other for tripping. All those residents who are living in the fringe parts of the State are among the worst sufferers due to power outage. The power generation in the State run hydro power projects is labeled completely insufficient to meet with the growing demand of electricity in the State.
The difference between demand and supply of electricity hover around three to four million units per day. Unable to meet the growing demand of the electricity in the State, the State power department has been procuring electricity from the private players to meet with the demand of electricity in the State.
The tripping of PITCUl (Power Transmission Corporation of Uttarakhand limited) lines due to the overload of 100 MVA transformer, SIDCUl Haridwar had resulted in the power outage for nearly two hours. The excessive load on the transformers were also reported at the 400 KV Kashipur and 400 KV Rishikesh resulted the problem of low voltage was erupted
whereas Jawalapur, Kashipur, Mahuakheda and adjoining went without electricity for nearly one hour. The problem of low voltage coupled with the tripping of lines due to the excessive load was also reported at 400 KV Kashipur and Puhana whereas the breakdown was also reported on Kashipur-Pantnagar due to excessive load. The similar kind of problem was also faced at 132 KV Almora-Pithoragarh line and those who are living in the adjoining areas face the power outage for nearly one hour. Sources said that the
transformers are getting overload due to the difference between the huge demand for power and short supply of electricity in the State. One of the department sources who wished anonymity told The Pioneer that circuit automatically breaks down in the case of excessive load. "Procurement of electricity from the private players or outside sources is a regular feature to lower the power outage in the Garhwal and Kumaon divisions of Uttarakhand," he said.
He added that the department has procured two million units of electricity worth Rs 40 lakh on Thursday whereas five million units of electricity worth Rs one crore on Friday to meet with the growing demand of electricity in the State. He further claimed that the lineman and mobile van team strives round the clock to rectify the errors for ensuring round the clock power supply to the consumers and the power scenario will improve in the near future.