WEAR AND TEAR

Patna, Jan. 9: Frequent power cuts in the state capital because of faulty cables could be a rare event this summer with Patna Electric Supply Undertaking (Pesu) deciding to replace the worn-out wires on a priority basis.

Source said apart from shortage of power supply from the central sector, damaged electric wires snapping during downpours and storms are also a major cause of power cuts.

“Of the 9,000km of cable length in Pesu’s jurisdiction in the urban areas, about 3,000km is badly damaged. Half of them can snap anytime,” said a source. These could soon be replaced, though.

Pesu general manager-cum-chief-engineer SKP Singh told The Telegraph: “We have identified the places where the cables are in a bad condition and can snap anytime. Pesu has undertaken a special drive to replace such wires on a priority basis. The replacement would be done in phases and within a stipulated time.”

He added: “Pesu has so far replaced 250km of distribution and transmission lines in areas like Digha, Karbigahaiya, Danapur, Patliputra and Rajiv Nagar.”

The undertaking has chalked out a plan for carrying out re-conducting of the rest of the cables. Every junior engineer has been asked to replace 1km of cable a week in his or her respective division.

“We have over 47 junior engineers and each has to replace 1km wire every week. If every engineer meets the weekly target, we can replace about 150km to 175km of old wires a month. In this way, we could replace all old wires in the next 15-20 months,” Singh said.

The general manager admitted that the rate of progress is slow. “We need to intensify the drive to replace the old cables. We will concentrate on those areas first where accidents occur because of snapping of old wires. We will try to achieve the target before the onset of summer.”