Steps taken to revamp ailing transmission lines in Jharkhand have started bearing some fruits. For the first time since Independence, the area between lohardaga and Gumla is on the verge of getting connected with Hatia grid, the State’s own power transmission network.
The high power transmission line is being charged on Wednesday as a team of higher officials of JSEB is camping in the area. “For the first time the people of the region would have facility of double connectivity in terms of transmission line. They have no longer to remain dependent on any other State and would be connected directly to Ranchi. We are charging the line today,” said General Manger (Transmission) US Rai.
Though the Board can be accused for inordinate delay in connecting power starved Palamau from the much talked about grid that would be loaded with sufficient power from the upcoming private power projects in the State in the days to come. Several deadlines including the latest one of December have passed without much progress in the area.
“We are working on a fast track. There were some law and order problems in between. The Naxals had fallen 3-4 towers near Manika of latehar. But now the problems and others involving forest department have been sorted out. Within three months time we would be connecting Palamau with Hatia grid,” JSEB Chairman SN Verma told The Pioneer.
The Board, to overcome the hurdles coming in the way, has adopted stepwise strategy. Small-small sections of transmission lines would be charged while dealing with the issues coming in the way efficiently. The effort also includes making sure the safety and security of the contractors working in a relatively hostile terrain.
For Ranchi, the JSEB is on the verge of setting up a new Kanke grid that would share load of the area.
“The Kanke grid would bear about 70 MW of load and reduce the load on the existing network. This would save the grid from being overloaded,” said PK Srivastava, spokesperson of the Board.