VISAKHAPATNAM: Extensive arrangements are being made by the power utilities to ensure uninterrupted power supply in the Godavari districts including Rajahmundry during the Godavari Maha Pushkarams scheduled to commence within four days.
The State Government has deployed over 900 employees led by a special officer of the director rank from the Eastern Power Distribution Company Limited (EPDCL) for the event. A whopping `54.39 crore have been spent for the Pushkarams arrangements.
The EPDCL has installed about 13 new 33/11 KV sub-stations, in both the Godavari districts to meet the power load conditions and as a provision of alternative supply. About 24 km of 33 KV and another 13 km of 11 KV interlinking lines have been laid to facilitate load diversion and for provision of alternative supply. The power distribution company has also enhanced the capacity of five power transformers and 133 distribution transformers besides installing 389 distribution transformers to meet the load conditions.
To avoid any untoward incidents, the officials have replaced 250 km of expired conductor in 11 KV lines and 200 km of aged conductor in LT lines. They have also replaced more than 800 transformers apart from erecting and replacing 2,137 eletric poles.
Mobile vehicles for replacement of transformers and generators have been provided at important locations to ensure smooth power supply. For effective discharge of duties and for attending emergencies within a minimum time, a GIS tracking mobile application (Person Tracking System-PTS) is developed and deployed.
In a release, EPDCL chairman and managing director R Muthyala Raju has said that the quality inspections have been arranged for 100 per cent of works. A total 922 employees from all districts have been deputed to Rajahmundry for monitoring and maintaining uninterrupted power supply during Pushkarams. For West Godavari, the local district employees are deputed for Pushkarams.