The collage photo shared by the Department of Power shows Tower No 16 on the 132 kV Wokha-Sanis line collapsed near Yikhum and Riphyim villages. Authorities suspect the early morning incident on April 27 was caused by theft of nuts and bolts of the tower. (Photo Courtesy: DoPN)
FIR filed, second incident in April
Kohima, April 28 (MExN): A crucial power transmission tower in Nagaland's Wokha district collapsed in the early hours of April 27 near Riphyim Old area. Authorities suspect the collapse was caused by theft, as crucial nuts and bolts for the tower's structure were removed.
The 132kV Single Circuit Tower No 16 is part of the crucial 132kV Kohima-Wokha-Sanis-Doyang transmission, informed an official release.
During inspection by the department along with district administration, it was discovered that the tack welded nuts and bolts of the tower were cut and removed resulting in the collapse of the tower, stated the release issued by Er Penrithung Yanthan, Chief Engineer (T&G), Department of Power, Nagaland.
This indicates a clear intention to steal the tower parts leading to disruption in the power supply by miscreants, it added.
Two adjacent towers (Tower numbers 15 and 17) were also found on the verge of collapse as the bracings of the towers have been stolen.
The power department has already lodged an FIR (First Information Report) with the police, the release said, appealing all village councils concerned, civil society organisations, and all stakeholders to cooperate and assist the law enforcing agencies to book the culprits at the earliest.
As per the department, the particular 132kV Kohima-Wokha-Sanis-Doyang transmission line was constructed for evacuation of power from the Doyang HEP and is an important element of the State Power Transmission Grid with connectivity to the state capital.
Unfortunately, the line could not be commissioned for many years due to theft of materials and damage of several towers at various locations between Wokha and Doyang, it said.
The department with great difficulty and struggle restored the line in 2016 incurring huge expenditure by State government in the process it added.
With the collapse of the tower, the department expressed apprehension that in the event of any line fault or power outages on the 132 kV Transmission line between Dimapur-Kohima-Karong (Manipur), the capital Kohima along with the whole of Kohima & Tseminyu districts & upper range of Wokha District including Wokha Town will plunge into “total/ complete blackout.”
Further, power supply would be adversely affected in the Upper Range of Wokha District and Tseminyu district in case of any breakdowns/outages between Kohima - Wokha Transmission line, it added.
As per the department, the April 27 collapse is the second such incident in April.
On April 20, the 66 kV Double Circuit Transmission Line Tower collapsed near Pungro Town due to theft of tower parts and disrupting the evacuation of power from Likhimro Hydro Electric Project.
While the department’s officers and staff have been working on a ‘war footing’ to restore the collapse of the first tower, the latest incident has put the department in a very critical situation, the release said.
while department is committed to provide “reliable and stable power supply” to the consumers despite many constraints and limitations, strongly expresses dismay for such act of sabotage to public property depriving the public of essential services.
While asserting that it is committed to provide “reliable and stable power supply” to the consumers despite many constraints and limitations, the department expressed its huge dismay to what it termed as “act of sabotage to public property depriving the public of essential services.”
Meanwhile, stating that department is putting in all efforts to restore the line at the earliest, it sought seek co-operation from all concerned.
