Underground cables will minimise power outages: FONRWA

The adviser for electricity to the chief minister of Uttar Pradesh directed Uttar Pradesh Power Corporation Limited (UPPCL) to fix all local faults within one month and devise a plan to shift overhead electricity cables underground.

The adviser for electricity to the chief minister of Uttar Pradesh directed Uttar Pradesh Power Corporation Limited (UPPCL) to fix all local faults within one month and devise a plan to shift overhead electricity cables underground.

Overhead electricity cables get damaged due to strong winds, rains and after being hit by tree branches. (Sunil Ghosh/HT Photo)

Kripal Singh, the adviser, issued the directions following a meeting with the federation of Noida residents’ welfare association (FONRWA), who had sought the meeting to discuss the issue of frequent power cuts due to recurring local faults in overhead electricity cables.

In sectors 1 to 65 of Noida, which were developed two decades ago, there is a higher concentration of overhead electricity cables that often get damaged due to strong winds, rains and after being hit by tree branches, resulting in power cuts or tripping. There are 167 sectors in Noida that developed by the authority.

NP Singh, the president of FONRWA, informed the adviser that tripping is a big problem in the older sectors, which are fully occupied.

“We brought this issue to the adviser’s notice to build pressure on the UPPCL and Noida authority, during our meeting on Saturday in Noida. The adviser directed UPPCL officials to prepare an estimate (for shifting cables underground) after he found merit in our proposal,” NP Singh said.

The UPPCL, which distributes electricity and is responsible for maintenance of equipment, has been working on a proposal to shift cables underground in the old sectors for three years.

“FONRWA raised underground cable issue for old sectors in the meeting and we informed the adviser about our plan. We have already sent a proposal to Noida authority in this regard. In new sectors (barring a few such as sector 72, 135) we are setting up cables underground only. It is, however, difficult to move the large infrastructure, to shift the overhead cables underground. It is a costly process, in comparison with setting up overhead cables, as it may cost `25 lakh-`90 lakh per kilometre as per the cable capacity,” Raghvendra sub-divisional engineer (SDE) of UPPCL said.

“The city will look better without overhead electric cables and power cuts can also be minimised,” Mukul Singhal, superintending engineer (SE) of UPPCL, Noida, said.