A lone 24 MVA transformer serving the state capital for past 17 years
Kohima, December 2 (MExN): The Kohima Village Youth Organisation (KVYO) today said that the government’s refusal to listen to technicians and experts in the power department could land the state capital in total darkness this festive and winter season.
The Association of Power Engineers Nagaland (APEN), on November 30, had stated that with the meager and deficient fund allocation, “the department will not be in a position to restore power supply in the event of major breakdown of machinery and equipment, which were imminent.”
Stating that repeated proposals of maintenance requirement by the power department to the state government are routinely ignored, the Association further noted the department is trying to maintain power supply across the state for the last several years without any support and resources from the government.
The fund allocations in last two state budgets were only 5% and 13% of the total requirement respectively, it informed.
APEN also cautioned that during winter, the 132/33kv 24 Mega Volt Amperes (MVA) sub-station at Kohima is also overloaded by 40% and if a single transformer goes down, Kohima might plunge into complete darkness with not a single spare on standby.
Concerned over the status, the youth organisation officials visited the Electrical Department for assessment the same day and discovered bleak power scenario, informed KVYO in a press release issued by its President Medozhatuo Rutsa and General Secretary Ruokuoneitso Kire.
During the interaction, it was learned that the only 24 MVA in Kohima installed in 2000 has been feeding the whole district 24×7 the last 17 years and could “most probably breakdown any moment if it is continued to be stretched and abused as is being done now,” it said.
The power department has been judiciously outputting only 19 MVA for safety, against the actual requirement of 32 MVA, the KVYO informed adding that the Department has effected load shedding at “Kohima 2 hours Daily due to the increased consumption on account of Hornbill festivities and winter.”
The Government “against advice” had also diverted 5 MVA to Peren and Medziphema, it said.
As a result, the KVYO noted that if there is a transformer breakdown, “Kohima will be plunged into not just total but prolonged darkness due to lack of a substitute transformer.”
In this connection, it urged the government to either roll up its “sleeves immediately and complete the installation of the additional 24 MVA kept on hold for past 3 years because of nonpayment of bills or listen to the power engineers and stop diverting power from Kohima.”
The youth organization also maintained that people of Kohima urban and semi urban areas along with the villages stand at the top of departmental books for prompt payment of electricity bills.
Therefore, KVYO will ensure that no one under Kohima electrical division is deprived of what they are entitled to at the expense of any other division, it stated.
Urge colonies to check power theft
Meanwhile, given the dismal electricity scenario, the Organisation has requested all the colony authorities under Kohima municipality and well as non municipal areas falling under the village to promote its fair usage.
The colony authorities are requested to ensure that the available resources are not only judiciously used, but also check all illegal power tapping which KVYO has been doing for long, it said.
