Power crisis in Purvanchal as more transformers go phut - Hindustan Times
close_game
close_game

Power crisis in Purvanchal as more transformers go phut

Hindustan Times, Lucknow | By, Lucknow
Jul 22, 2017 03:42 PM IST

Dozens of villages and localities in Purvanchal towns are forced to go without electricity for days and weeks together.The crisis is not for any power shortage as such in the state but because of lack of availability of healthy transformers needed to replace the ones going phut like crackers in the rains.

Despite tall claims of power department officials that transformers in rural areas are being changed within 48 hours of them getting damaged, dozens of villages and localities in Purvanchal towns are forced to go without electricity for days and weeks together.

Burnt transformers not being replaced for weeks in a number of villages despite people lodging complaints at various levels.(HT File Photo)
Burnt transformers not being replaced for weeks in a number of villages despite people lodging complaints at various levels.(HT File Photo)

And the crisis is not for any power shortage as such in the state but because of lack of availability of healthy transformers needed to replace the ones going phut like crackers in the rains.

Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now.

There are complaints about burnt transformers not being replaced for weeks in a number of villages despite people lodging complaints at various levels. “We are not able to even charge our cell phones because there has been no electricity in the village since a 100 KV transformer burnt with a spark three weeks ago,” complained Wali Ullah, a resident of Baswari village of Kaushambi district.

Several other villages, including Girdharpur and Baghbanshi, have the same story to narrate. “I know more than half a dozen villages that are facing the same crisis,” Wali Ullaha said, adding “I have contacted all authorities right from the executive engineer of the district to the UP Power Corporation Ltd bosses but all said there was shortage of transformers and efforts were being made to arrange the same.”

UPPCL managing director, Vishal Chauhan admitted there was some crisis in Purvanchal due to more damages of transformers with increasing load. “But adequate number of transformers have been arranged now,” he claimed.

But the crisis does not appear to be over if the transformers related information given on the Purvanchal Vidyut Vitran Nigam Ltd’s (PuVVNL) own website is anything to go by. A status on district-wise damage of transformers and their repair shows that out of total 3,73,781 transformers installed in the PuVVNL comprising 21 districts, as many as 4,334 transformers got damaged between July 1 and July 20.

The website claims that 4,072 damaged transformers were replaced till July 20 with 262 transformers still waiting their turn to come. Sources, however, said the actual damaged transformers requiring replacement was much higher. “We need replacement of 150 defunct transformers in Kaushambi district alone,” said an engineer requesting anonymity. He said damaged transformers were not being repaired due to lack of copper coil and oil.

Sources said the number of transformers going out of order every day exceeded the number of transformers being repaired and replaced. It is also evident from the information available on the PuVVNL’s website, according to which 236 transformers got damaged on July 20 against 223 transformers remained the same day.

It is said much of the transformer crisis in Purvanchal was due to lack of stable management in the PuVVNL that seen frequent change of its MD during last 6 months.

The UP Power Corporation Ltd (UPPCL) had even launched a statewide drive in May to change damaged transformers in the rural areas when it got complaints. Then, also the maximum complaints had been received from the Purvanchal.

SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON
Share this article
  • ABOUT THE AUTHOR
    author-default-90x90

    Brajendra K Parashar is a Special Correspondent presently looking after agriculture, energy, transport, panchayati raj, commercial tax, Rashtriya Lok Dal, state election commission, IAS/PCS Associations, Vidhan Parishad among other beats.

SHARE
Story Saved
Live Score
OPEN APP
Saved Articles
Following
My Reads
Sign out
New Delhi 0C
Tuesday, March 19, 2024
Start 14 Days Free Trial Subscribe Now
Follow Us On