The energy disaster in Punjab in the course of the peak summer season season is as a result of acute scarcity of fabric and the necessity for males to maintain the availability community working amidst frequent breakdowns.
In Punjab, the paddy season started on July 10 and PSPCL’s claims of uninterrupted provide have been quickly uncovered as heavy rains and robust winds paralyzed energy provide.
Sources mentioned that PSPCL lacks obligatory provide of distribution transformer, 11 kV XLPE (cross-linked polyethylene) cable, pole, LT (low rigidity) cable and 11 kV shunt capacitor. The inventory of transformers is about 25 per cent of their required quantity.
“As per the information obtained by us, the variety of transformers of all required capability obtainable is round 17,000, whereas the common requirement is greater than 67,000 because the harm price of transformers is most as a consequence of overloading throughout paddy season.
Further, in opposition to the requirement of round 16,000 transformers for 10/25 KVA, PSPCL has a inventory of round 4,700 and 4,100 transformers respectively,” mentioned VK Gupta, spokesperson of All Indian Engineers Federation. He mentioned that yearly there’s scarcity of fabric, however this 12 months the state of affairs is worst for distribution transformers, insulators, cables and cable packing containers. Gupta mentioned that now the administration is making an attempt accountable the pandemic to cover its failures.
In case of 11KV XLPE cable, PSPCL shops present availability of round 91 km size throughout paddy season in opposition to the common consumption of final three years, as per sources, round 160 km.
Sources mentioned the provision of 2-core and/or 4-core cables of various sizes can also be lower than the common consumption of the final three paddy seasons.
The report exhibits the provision of 900 km of 2-core cable in opposition to a mean requirement of seven,000 km. The availability of 4-core cables of various sizes in PSPCL shops is at one-fourth of its requirement.
“PSPCL has failed to procure the material required for proper maintenance of the power distribution system. There is practically no cable to carry out maintenance works whether it is LT cable or 11KV XLPE cable of different sizes,” mentioned a chief engineer.
In view of the brief inventory of important commodities, the Chief Engineers have been entrusted with the fabric allocation they usually have been requested to control the fabric in order that there is no such thing as a main drawback in the course of the paddy season.
“The procurement of materials in the emergency area has now been handed over to the spot procurement committees, putting the quality of the material procured at risk,” Gupta mentioned.
“Top officers have requested all superintending engineers (SEs) to not method them for materials and they need to coordinate with varied chief engineers for his or her necessities. A PSPCL superintending engineer mentioned, “In the absence of obligatory materials engineers are apprehensive about manhandling, an impartial energy minister is required as a portfolio is with the CM workplace for a very long time.
“Political compulsions and election promises are bound to have a huge impact on the state’s finances in the election year and it may not be able to clear the electricity subsidy bill which has steadily risen to ₹17,796 crore including arrears, which is more than 10 per cent per annum. is more. Percentage of the total budget of Punjab,” mentioned one other chief engineer, including that the Punjab State Electricity Regulatory Commission (PSERC) has already labored out a subsidy of T 10,668 crore payable to numerous shopper classes.
Gupta mentioned: “The monetary place of PSPCL fully is determined by well timed cost of subsidy. This cash is usually used to purchase electrical energy in the course of the paddy season.
A senior PSPCL official mentioned that the story of the company is a narrative of scarcity of males and materials. He mentioned, “Due to improper planning, neither adequate manpower was arranged, nor sufficient material was procured, and now due to frequent power cuts and inadequate power supply to agricultural consumers, adequate power availability Management claims are exposed.”
“As per the records obtained by us, there is acute shortage of staff in PSPCL as more than 50 per cent posts are vacant,”
Gupta mentioned that the engineers have cautioned the PSPCL administration that they shouldn’t be held accountable in case of any accident within the thermal plant as a consequence of scarcity of workers.
He warned that working with skeletal workers of all of the 4 items at Ropar Thermal and Lehar Mohabbat Thermal may result in catastrophe.
“As per the vacancy details for the month of May 21, for Ropar Thermal, 32 posts of Assistant Executive Engineer and Assistant Engineer (AEE/AE) in Operation Circle are vacant who are responsible for running the Thermal Plant. The department has hired 5 retired engineers for the paddy season as an ad hoc arrangement. There is no staff to look after the operations of the subsidiary and most of the places remain unmanned,” mentioned a supply.
Gupta additional knowledgeable that the facility distribution system in rural areas has been outsourced and is in a dilapidated situation.
Meanwhile, A Venu Prasad, Chairman cum Managing Director (CMD) whereas speaking to Indian Express mentioned: “There is no doubt that due to COVID our manufacturing units also got shut down and the supply line got affected to some extent and now We do not have surplus. material, but at the same time there is no shortage of any material as everything we need for maintenance and repair is being procured and supplied.”
About the scarcity of transformers, he mentioned: “Why do we need to have a large number of transformers in advance. Wherever they are needed, we will supply them.”
Another senior PSPCL official, talking on situation of anonymity, mentioned there’s an pressing want to enhance the complete energy provide infrastructure throughout the state.
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With inputs from TheIndianEXPRESS
