Spending sweltering hours without power supply has become a common practice in Jharkhand. Several areas in capital Ranchi too bear the brunt of repeated periodic power outages, not once but several times in a day for not less than an hour, every two hours.
Recently the state electricity board faced the music of the administration and ire of the people forcing them on their toes to step up restoration work for a steady power supply. However the JSEB officials are in denial of any gaping crevices in demand and supply of electricity. P.K Shrivastava, JSEB Director PR, reasons that unavoidable technical faults in generation and transmission caused the blackouts.
Rectifying the faults is the department’s top priority he stressed. He says,” Recent failure of the two generating units in Patratu was fixed up the same day. A week ago the dept. expedited the replacement of 164 burnt transformers all over Jharkhand with new ones. In Ranchi itself, one burnt transformer of 200 KVA capacity ; 10 of 100 KVA capacity and 9 of 63 KVA capacity burnt transformers have been replaced.”
Contradicting the claims, a JSEB engineer on conditions of anonymity reveals that the requirements of power in Ranchi city is 190 Megawatts mounting to 225 MW during peak hours i.e 6 am- 9pm, but only 150 MW of power is made available. likewise, the power demand of 150MW in Kanke div. is constrained by a supply of only 70MW. The tightening demand supply gap is achieved by purchase of electricity from DVC of nearly 100MW to an additional 454MW from the central pool.
Further cautioning against no sooner respite from regular power cuts, the threat of rotational black outs loom due to torrid weather conditions. In summers overloading of transformers and power supply network components as well as overheating of transformers is accentuated by excessive power consumption due to increase use of ACs, fans, coolers and a plethora of electrical gadgets, causing circuit breakdown. Deliberately or automatically, circuits are disconnected to protect power supply networks from any damage. Also the transformers used presently are filled with oil, the temp. of which rises with the rise in mercury level. Once the temp. of oil exceeds 60 degrees, transformers risk of damage. Therefore for maintenance of power components, rotational power cuts are inevitable.
Amardeep Kumar, the owner of I-NET café in kanke road rues,“ the disrupted power supply has incurred financial burden on us. Routine surveillance and crackdown measures by higher up authorities of JSEB could reduce the unnecessary overloading which is caused by many unlicensed small business units which do not have legal electric connections. They resort to illegal hooking to save payments of electricity bills.” He alleged that numerous unlicensed factories are flourishing in areas falling under Sukhdeo nagar like Kumhartoli, Madukani, Khadgarha, Dungartoli and Kishorganj.
The owners in connivance with electricians and employees of the department steal electricity by diverting or hooking. The disrupted power supply has paralyzed business houses leading to cost escalation in expenditure due to over use of backup system requiring costly fuel.
Rebuffing such accusations, P.K Shrivastav enumerates the robust plans taken to upgrade the power supply network in Jharkhand.
Short term measures taken:
Total no. of 10,508 of varying KVA distribution transformers are under process of procurement and deliveries expected from May 2013 onwards over a period of six months.
4600 km ACSR conductor would be delivered within a month or two.
Procurement of 1,16,000 single phased meter have been completed and another 1,33,00 is due for process in FY 2013-14.
For capacity addition procurement of 133 power transformers of 5 MVA and 10 MVA have been initiated.
Utilization of Kanke grid capacity through 33 KV lines are under progress. This will remove overloading of Hatia Grid during peak hours.
long term plans
In a move to curve stealing of electricity by hooking, lT line will soon replace Arial bunch conductor in phase manner.
Transformer repairing workshops presently numbering 6 will be augmented to 8,
Under ADP 2013-14 30 new power substations of 33/11 KV has been planned. This will enhance 280 MVA transformation capacity at 11KV level. But for now people continue to feel the heat of disrupted power supply.