Kiphire - ‘nerve centre’ of power dept in darkness

 Morung Express News
Kiphire | July 27  

With power blackout continuing for two and half months in four Wards of Kiphire town without respite after a transformer broke down, citizens are now questioning the recent assertion made by the Department of Power that the district is the “nerve centre of the power department in Nagaland.” The tall claim, reportedly made by a high-ranking official of the power department during the inauguration of the upgradation of SDO Electrical to Executive Engineer on February 6, 2016 had the citizens actually considering it as a beacon of hope.

However, with the recent damage of the 500 KVA, 33/0.4 transformer which was installed in the early 90s and the bleak prospect of not knowing when the transformer would be restored despite two and a half months gone, citizens are now crying foul over the “rhetoric.”  

According to sources, the transformer reportedly broke down due to overloading. With no replacement, consumers numbering around 350, particularly the students have been facing untold miseries while waiting for the return of the repaired transformer.  

“If Kiphire is the nerve centre of power in the state, it is so ironic that in reality the town is suffering with acute lack of electricity and we are unable to perform our own work as a consequence, a Nagaland Government employee rued in the backdrop.

Members from the councils of the four Wards said they have been patient with the power department and extended full cooperation by way of pacifying the consumers in the ward- so far.  

“Now we are also running out of patience and if the consumers pressure us, we would be left with no option but to move ahead to our own course of action unless the department restore the transformer at the earliest,” Ward council members sounded caution while speaking to this Correspondent.  

Out of the 24-MW hydroelectricity that the district produces from Likhimro Hydro Power Project, 10% of the total power produce is consumed by the district. Even after this, the district has to undergo frequent power cut owing to different factors, Kiphire citizens complained.  

With the power department already running at a loss of revenue due to leakage and power theft, the damage of transformer for more than two and half month has already incurred a loss in revenue of around Rs 1,75,000/- to the department, a person in the knowhow of the economics of profit-loss of the department revealed.  

Besides the woes of the consumers, the workforce of Kiphire power department also have their own share of burden, apparently due to inadequate or lack of equipments and infrastructure.  

“We are asked to go and repair and replace electric posts which are on the verge of collapsing. But there are no materials in the departmental store, how can we perform our duties,” staffs on duty of the Kiphire power station questioned-an instance of the surmountable problems they encounter while on the field.  

The staffs also revealed that the entire town is in the need for repair work by way of re-conducting since the strength of the wire has weakened. This has been lessening the supply of electricity and at the same time causing short circuit, which lead to fire outbreaks.  

The Kiphire Area Sangtam Students’ Union (KASSU) has already served an ultimatum to the power department to restore electricity within a week time. “If the department fail to act, we will take our own course of action, KASSU vice president stated.  

Kiphire Area Students’ Union (KASU) is also learnt to have served an ultimatum to the department to restore power.