158 transformers damaged in 4 days amid rising power demand in Valley
As winter chill sets in and temperature plummets to below the freezing point in several parts of the Valley, there has been a rise in incidents of damage in locality distribution transformers (DTs). In the last four day, 158 transformers were damaged, Kashmir Power Distribution Corporation Limited (KPDCL) said on Friday.
A KPDCL spokesperson said 49 locality distribution transformers were damaged across Kashmir valley on Thursday alone, “indicating a steep rise in unsanctioned heating load across all divisions of Kashmir Valley”.
According to officials, 49 DTs were reported damaged on November 21, 32 were damaged on November 20, 37 on November 19 and 40 on November 18.
Issuing an appeal, the discom spokesperson asked the consumers to use electricity judiciously so that “locality distribution transformers are protected from damage and subsequent power outages.”
Expressing serious concern over increase in DT damage rate early in winter, the spokesperson advised domestic consumers to strictly adhere to their sanctioned load and avoid using crude heaters and boilers, which have been banned by the government.
According to the officials, KPDCL’s central workshop at Pampore and divisional workshops are operating in double shifts to reclaim the buffer stock by repairing the damaged DTs. “Against 158 DTs damaged across Kashmir Valley over the last 4 days, 143 were also repaired and restored during the same period,” the spokesperson said.
The Kashmir Power Distribution Corporation Limited has attributed rising DT damage rate and power outages to “rampant use of crude heaters/ boilers and illegal hooking on bare conductor” in metered areas.
The spokesperson said that KPDCL has intensified its inspection and disconnection drives across all electric divisions of Kashmir Valley to curb power theft. “As many as 1,484 inspection drives were conducted across all 18 electric divisions by KPDCL on November 21, during which 1,396 domestic and 514 commercial installations were disconnected for unauthorised use of power,” he said, adding the inspection drives will be further accelerated on daily basis in all districts of Kashmir Division.
KPDCL also said they have maintained a buffer stock of 1,554 DTs. “We have also kept a reserve stock of DTs to meet any eventuality on account of higher DT damage,” the spokesperson said, adding buffer stock was pegged at 1,412 last year.
