Electric insulators collecting the dripping oil from the leaking transformer situated at the main power station at Full Nagarjan in Dimapur. (Morung photo)
Dimapur| July 27 : With the Power sector in Nagaland losing revenue in crores of rupees, the government has decided to crack down on electricity theft. A surprise raid was conducted in Dimapur today by the Special Task Force from the Department of Power along with the police and district administration. Headed by the Executive Engineer of Dimapur Electrical Division, Nitovi Wotsa, officials raided houses in several colonies. Nearly 20 houses were penalized for using illegal hooking and meter by-passing. Interestingly, the Nagaland Police outpost at Dillai Gate was also caught using illegal hooks. Commissioner and Secretary for Power, L Kire was also present during the raid.
Briefing reporters after the raid, Kire said that the department is plagued by power theft, non-payment of bills and shortage of manpower due to which it is losing crores of rupees annually. He pointed out that the government allocated Rs. 160 crores last year for power purchase to the department under non-plan. However, the internal revenue mobilized was only Rs.56 crores, adding that the government has to put in another 27 crores from power trading to cover expenses.
With 1, 95,786 consumers in the state, the revenue collected is very poor, he stated. He added that shortfall in revenue is also effecting funding from the Planning Commission of India.
Kire said that people need to have a relook at their attitude in order to improve the Power sector. He said that the department is not “interested in raiding” but is compelled to do so to deter people from stealing power. He also admitted that the department is not without shortcoming and in many ways not adequately equipped to meet challenges. Nevertheless, the department is making efforts to rectify the loopholes, he said. Due to increasing number of consumers, he added that the department is planning to open more collection counters and also create more power division to increase manpower. He further pointed out that the government is planning to upgrade sub-stations across the state to the desired level of consumers.
Department losing heavily on leaking transformers
The Dimapur power division is already under a lot of criticisms for its inefficiency due to constant power cuts and load shedding. Now it has come to notice that the 60 MVA (MEGAVOLT-AMPERE) transformers located at the main power house in Full Nagarjan are leaking. The 30 something year old transformers have been leaking for the last three years and the department is losing about 20/25 litres of transformer oil everyday. The oil used in these transformers reportedly costs Rs.300 per litre. This would mean that the department is losing nearly Rs.7, 000 per day due to the leakage. The three transformers (with a capacity of 20 MVA each) provide electricity supply for Dimapur and Medziphema areas. The department claims that that the leakage is in no way affecting power supply as it is generating the required capacity of 44 MW of restricted capacity. But it is certainly losing a lot of money.
The department has on several occasions tried to restore the leakages but failed. It is learnt that a detailed project report was prepared for installation of new transformers and the supply order has already been issued. The new transformers will have a capacity of 100 MVA. However, when the work will begin is not certain. Meanwhile, the transformers will just continue to leak.
This, however, is not an isolated case. The department pointed out that most of the transformers/ mini-transformers have outlived their lifespan. It is learnt that the department needs to urgently upgrade most of its machineries. The department pointed out that about 30 to 40% of electricity consumers is “illegal” and the transformers are unable to bear the excess load. Even among registered consumers, many have not upgraded their load consumption even though it has increased considerably. It also pointed out “local constrains” as one of the factors for constant power cuts. The department also pointed out that unless the entire system is revamped, the department cannot continue functioning in the old fashioned manner. Ariel bunch wiring and underground wiring are some of the many options to curb power theft, but that also remains and distant reality in Nagaland. The lack of awareness among consumers is also a big stumbling block for the department but with communitisation of power making progress, the department is hoping things will change.
Briefing reporters after the raid, Kire said that the department is plagued by power theft, non-payment of bills and shortage of manpower due to which it is losing crores of rupees annually. He pointed out that the government allocated Rs. 160 crores last year for power purchase to the department under non-plan. However, the internal revenue mobilized was only Rs.56 crores, adding that the government has to put in another 27 crores from power trading to cover expenses.
With 1, 95,786 consumers in the state, the revenue collected is very poor, he stated. He added that shortfall in revenue is also effecting funding from the Planning Commission of India.
Kire said that people need to have a relook at their attitude in order to improve the Power sector. He said that the department is not “interested in raiding” but is compelled to do so to deter people from stealing power. He also admitted that the department is not without shortcoming and in many ways not adequately equipped to meet challenges. Nevertheless, the department is making efforts to rectify the loopholes, he said. Due to increasing number of consumers, he added that the department is planning to open more collection counters and also create more power division to increase manpower. He further pointed out that the government is planning to upgrade sub-stations across the state to the desired level of consumers.
Department losing heavily on leaking transformers
The Dimapur power division is already under a lot of criticisms for its inefficiency due to constant power cuts and load shedding. Now it has come to notice that the 60 MVA (MEGAVOLT-AMPERE) transformers located at the main power house in Full Nagarjan are leaking. The 30 something year old transformers have been leaking for the last three years and the department is losing about 20/25 litres of transformer oil everyday. The oil used in these transformers reportedly costs Rs.300 per litre. This would mean that the department is losing nearly Rs.7, 000 per day due to the leakage. The three transformers (with a capacity of 20 MVA each) provide electricity supply for Dimapur and Medziphema areas. The department claims that that the leakage is in no way affecting power supply as it is generating the required capacity of 44 MW of restricted capacity. But it is certainly losing a lot of money.
The department has on several occasions tried to restore the leakages but failed. It is learnt that a detailed project report was prepared for installation of new transformers and the supply order has already been issued. The new transformers will have a capacity of 100 MVA. However, when the work will begin is not certain. Meanwhile, the transformers will just continue to leak.
This, however, is not an isolated case. The department pointed out that most of the transformers/ mini-transformers have outlived their lifespan. It is learnt that the department needs to urgently upgrade most of its machineries. The department pointed out that about 30 to 40% of electricity consumers is “illegal” and the transformers are unable to bear the excess load. Even among registered consumers, many have not upgraded their load consumption even though it has increased considerably. It also pointed out “local constrains” as one of the factors for constant power cuts. The department also pointed out that unless the entire system is revamped, the department cannot continue functioning in the old fashioned manner. Ariel bunch wiring and underground wiring are some of the many options to curb power theft, but that also remains and distant reality in Nagaland. The lack of awareness among consumers is also a big stumbling block for the department but with communitisation of power making progress, the department is hoping things will change.
