ULFA blasts affect Nagaland power supply

Morung Express News
Dimapur | January 23

DARK DAYS are looming large over Nagaland. Besides a total power failure throughout the State on January 28, unprecedented load shedding is also currently taking place. On January 28, the State will witness a total power blackout due to maintenance works which are to be executed by the Power Grid department.

But even more disheartening is the fact that due to the blowing-up of gas pipelines of the 294 megawatt Kathalguri gas thermal power plant at Assam by the proscribed United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA), power supply in Nagaland has been disrupted.

Electricity, which is already facing a shortage in Nagaland, will experience load shedding for much longer hours for at least another couple of days (if not more) due to the blasts. For this very reason, lights were out throughout daytime today and for a larger part of the evening.

The ULFA had yesterday unleashed a reign of havoc killing two and injuring seven besides blowing up three gas pipelines and the power installation in eastern Assam.   

Speaking to The Morung Express, Moa Aier, Executive Engineer, Electrical Transmission Division, Dimapur said during dry winter months, the State relies more on electricity generated from thermal power stations because rivers cannot supply sufficient current to hydel power stations.

As per information from North East Regional Load Dispatch Centre (NERLDC), Shillong, it is unlikely that the power situation will improve till Republic Day. NERLDC is the authorized government agency which decides how much electricity is to be generated to which Northeastern state. “The pipelines will be repaired only day after tomorrow in all probability,” SM Puri, a Deputy Manager stationed at the office in Shillong said over telephone.

He further informed that they had not been kept abreast of the repairing schedule. The North East Electrical Power Corporation is undertaking the repair works.  Meanwhile, the Nagaland department of power has deeply regretted the heavy load shedding which is “largely beyond their control.”