Sept. 14: The Assam State Electricity Board (ASEB) has decided to install an alternative 220 KV transmission line from the Bongaigaon Thermal Power Station to Sarusajai by December to improve the power scenario in the city.
The ASEB moved to install the alternative line after its initiatives to prevent the frequent faults in the 220 KV Samuguri-Sarusajai transmission line failed. The frequent breakdowns in this transmission line cause long hours of unscheduled loadshedding in the city.
The Samuguri-Sarusajai line, which is supplying the highest volume of 140 MW of power to the city, has been snapped thrice in less than two weeks. Major parts of the city witnessed several hours of loadshedding today when the transmission line once again snapped at 4.45 am.
Once problems start in the transmission line, the Sarusajai Extra High Voltage Grid Substation and the Kahilipara Grid Station cannot evacuate power supplied by the North Eastern Electric Power Corporation (Neepco) and the Eastern Grid. This results in long powercuts.
The problem in transmission also results in heavy to slow fluctuation in voltage in several areas of the city.
The frequent faults in the transmission line have been forcing the residents of the affected areas to practically remain awake through the night because of the sweltering heat. Phone calls from angry residents have been flooding the ASEB control rooms.
Today’s unscheduled loadshedding continued till late in the evening despite the ASEB’s claim that the transmission line would be restored by afternoon.
The powercut has also affected essential services like water supply. Business was affected as prime commercial areas like Fancy Bazar, Panbazar, Chandmari, Dispur and Lakhtokia experienced hours of loadshedding.
N.C. Deka, managing director of the Assam Electricity Grid Corporation Ltd, said the Samuguri-Sarusajai line is quite old and cannot take such heavy load for long hours.
Admitting that poor maintenance is one of the reasons for frequent faults in the transmission line, Deka said the ASEB was making all efforts to improve the power scenario.
“There are many ifs and buts. But we are firm to overcome all hurdles. Hundreds of power poles and several transformers in the city are also in urgent need of repair for the past several years,” he said.
Work on the proposed BTPS-Sarusajai transmission line has already been started.
Power minister Pradyut Bordoloi had recently announced that Guwahati would be developed as a model area of power distribution.
Selected areas where IT, industrial and commercial activities are concentrated will be created as load-shedding free zone.
A round-the-clock help line will also be made available in the city soon so that residents can lodge their complaints faster, making it easier for the authorities to address the problems in power supply immediately. Deka said the ASEB would set up 15 substations to improve the power scenario with help from the Asian Development Bank. All the substations will be completed within one year.
