JOIN USPower project mired in tussle
The reason: The Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) and Karnataka Power Transmission Corporation Limited (KPTCL) are locked in a tussle.
The 220KV station at Anand Rao circle, which is crucial to construct a 220KV ring around the City to transmit quality power has taken a backseat. The crucial task of cable-laying from the Rajajinagar substation till Anand Rao circle has been awaiting the Palike’s clearance for several months.
KPTCL sources said that the file seeking permission is gathering dust. “We have completed the substation at a cost of Rs 24 crores. It is a strategic station as it can improve the quality of power for consumers and bring down the losses. But it has remained uncharged since past six months,” said an official.
The cables for the station were imported from Korea, at a cost of Rs 2 crore. KPTCL fears that the cables might be damaged and will be rendered defunct if not put to use immediately. “We just need to cut the road. It is up to the BBMP to permit us to dig the road and show us the place to lay the cables. Though they have been telling us to go for bits and pieces of work citing reasons of traffic congestion, we cannot do it technically,” said a source in KPTCL.
KPTCL would have to dig at least a 12 feet deep trench to lay three parallel cables each with 12 inch gap between them, so that it will be safe.
“It is a specialised work and needs to be done by experts. We need to be careful about it. But for this, we need the BBMP’s co-operation. If delayed, it will be a loss for us as the imported cables might get damaged.”
Once the cable is connected with the substation, the authorities were planning to have a ring main system, to prevent major power cuts in the City. “This will be connected to other 220KV sub-stations in the City already established and few of those in the pipeline. Once this happens, even if a cable damage happens, the power supply will not be affected. It can be restored by idling the damaged cable by restoring supply through other stations.”
This station aims at meeting high demand of the system and can restore power immediately. There can be uninterrupted supply with no voltage fluctuations. Besides, with the cables being completely underground, there is no fear of electrocution. It can also help in improving aesthetic beauty of the City by greening the surface unlike the overhead cables.
When contacted, Commissioner, Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike, Bharath Lal Meena said that it is mainly the traffic problem that was delaying the permission.
However, he assured that he would look into the matter at the earliest.