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A galvanised iron pole seen along Hokishe Sema Road in Dimapur. EM Images[/caption]
Eastern Mirror Desk
Dimapur, June 12: Most parts of Dimapur town have been witnessing poor power supply for the last couple of weeks — which is an annual feature here, come summer.
According to an official of the department of Power, the daily power consumption in Dimapur fluctuates between 65-70 MW approximately. He told Eastern Mirror that the frequent power failures under Metha substation were due to overload.
He explained that the present power consumption of the substation has crossed the maximum mark in ‘relay setting.’
Since new control panels had been installed recently at the substation, the company engineers were more capable of manning the devices, he said. He assured that the company engineers would arrive from Guwahati on Thursday to increase the maximum limit in the relay settings. “After that it will be somehow stable,” he added.
According to the official, the substation at Metha colony feeds consumers in Signal Angami, Thahekhu, Sematila, PWD colony, Midland, Supply colony, main town area, and Island colony (Naga Cemetery).
“Compared to this substation, other colonies under the remaining substation in Dimapur—located at Burma Camp, CIHSR, Sovima, and Nagarjan—are doing quite well,” he said.
The official further added that a 2.5 MVA compact substation would soon be installed at Metha colony as an alternative measure and would most likely be commissioned this month. “This will carry the load of the colony which will result in less power cuts,” he stated.
Another substation at Forest Colony (Midland) for 10 MVA is in progress. He said that it would take the whole year for completion and added that the “department is working to constitute another 10 MVA power supply within that substation.”
Likewise, another 10 MVA substation in Industrial substation has already been completed. “To make the feeders comfortable, this substation is currently helping to supply power in small units to Metha colony substation,” he said.
Integrated Power Development Scheme
The current projects, which have been undertaken by the department, are part of the Integrated Power Development Scheme (IPDS) launched last year. The IPDS is a central scheme for improving electricity transmission and distribution networks in urban areas.
Its primary focus is to help in reduction of the aggregate technical and commercial losses; establish an IT-enabled energy accounting/auditing system, improve bill energy which will be based on meter consumption; and improve collection efficiency.
The official said that the scheme, which is being implemented in Dimapur, comes with different packages under two phases.
Phase one include replacement of consumer meters, modernisation of control rooms, upgrading distribution transformers, and replacement of 11 KV trunk lines with LT lines and old utility poles will be replaced with 14.5 meter galvanised iron (aka GI) poles along the arterial roads.
The official said that the ongoing works for replacement of utility poles will also cause occasional load shedding though maximum load shedding takes place after midnight or during early morning.
Phase two would involve installation of prepaid meters, insulation of new distribution transformer, and installing 33kv trunk line from Nagarjan to Forest colony. He informed that phase two is an ongoing project and added that the work for a substation at Forest Colony (Midland) is part of this phase.
He further stated that works for Padumpukhuri 20 MVA substation and 10 MVA at 4th Mile, CIHSR area, are in progress. “Consumers will be comfortable after this development, but it does not mean load shedding will not exist,” he mentioned.
Meanwhile, the official stated that 10,000 prepaid meters will soon be installed in Dimapur and another 10,000 in Kohima. According to him, coupons will be available at recharge centres. The coupon must then be swiped in the machine in order to avail power. This is part of the “the centre’s target for 100% prepaid policy in the country,” he said.
He further explained that a ‘grace period’ of 12 to 24 hours will be extended for recharge if validity expires. The power will automatically disconnect once it expires. Trials for the prepaid meter are being conducted in Marwari Patti. He assured that the tests have been successful so far.
In order to have less interrupted power supply, the official has requested consumers to use power judiciously and avoid ‘unnecessary’ power consuming activities.
He has also reminded the “industrial units to maintain the restricted peak hour from 5.30 pm to 9.30 pm” adding that the units consume high amount of electricity.