The transmission tower, situated in between Yikhum and Riphyim villages, was reported to have been found collapsed on April 27, with the department attributing the cause to stolen nuts and bolts (inset) holding the tower framework. (Morung File Photo via DoPN Handout)
1-2 months before Likimro resumes generation
Morung Express News
Dimapur | May 1
The Wokha police arrested one suspect in connection to the theft of power transmission paraphernalia and subsequent collapse of transmission tower. The now collapsed tower was part of the 132kV Kohima-Wokha-Sanis-Doyang transmission line, evacuating power from the Doyang Hydro Electric Project (HEP).
The PRO of the Wokha police, Additional Superintendent of Police, K Soriso, in a press release, informed that a 32 year-old man, identified as Likho Kithan was arrested from Wokha town’s Tsumang ‘A’ colony on April 30 following a painstaking investigation.
“Though it was a blind case, the team painstakingly jotted down all the suspects and scrap dealers in the surrounding areas and they were diligently scrutinized,” the PRO said. With technical support from the Cyber Crime Cell, DEF Wokha, the police narrowed down on two suspects resulting in the arrest of Kithan, who was termed as the main accused.
He was booked under sections 379 and 336 of the IPC, alongwith relevant sections of the Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act and Electricity Act.
“Wokha Police assures the public that every effort is made to arrest all those who are connected with the case so as to prevent such incidents from occurring in the future,” the PRO added.
The investigation began after the Department of Power Nagaland (DoPN) filed a complaint at the Wokha Police Station with regard to the collapse of the tower on April 28. The tower, situated in between Yikhum and Riphyim villages, was reported to have been found collapsed the day before. The cause was attributed to stolen nuts and bolts holding the tower framework.
Two adjacent towers were also found with bracings missing/stolen and on the verge of collapse, as informed by the DoPN in a media release on April 28.
The affected 132kV line was serving as a conduit for transmitting power from the Doyang HEP to the State Power Transmission Grid with connectivity to the state capital.
DoPN officials informed that work to restore the tower has started and it would likely take 20-30 days to bring it into circuit. While it is being restored, Wokha town is being fed from Kohima and Sanis from Doyang through an alternate line.
LHEP transmission
According to the DoPN, a 66 kV transmission tower, evacuating power from the Likimro Hydro Electric Project (LHEP), was found collapsed under similar circumstances on April 20. Nuts and bolts were found missing in this case as well.
As a consequence, it brought generation to a grounding halt in the LHEP. It would be another 1-2 months before the tower gets restored and put into circuit, as per a DoPN official. Unlike in the Wokha case, the 66 kV tower, near Pungro town, needs a new concrete base and the framework built anew.
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