Association of Power Engineers Nagaland (APEN) under the Department of Power (DoP) has reminded the state government that the current problems faced in power supply across Nagaland was because the field staff and engineers are experiencing “frustration, exasperation and helplessness” since they have been left to grapple with the herculean task of maintaining power supply without any support or resource from the state government.
In a bold statement APEN president Er.Shikato Sema and general secretary Er.Rokongou Suohu stated that the department has reached an impossible situation where it is no longer possible to maintain proper power supply without adequate equipments and resources.
APEN reminded that the department and the Chief Engineer , had on August 28,2015 highlighted the acute deficiency of allocation of annual plan fund to power sector during 2015-16 wherein the department received only Rs.7.11 crore of 5% of its requirement. Yet, in spite of all these, APEN said the department was being treated like any other minor department where only Rs 13.50 cr. outlay was provided for 2017-18 and which was again only 13% % of the minimum requirement for maintenance.
APEN also pointed out that the DoP continue to be hampered with acute shortage of field staff, by at least 500 which has resulted in about 400 villages left without field staff.
Highlighting the difficulties of maintaining steady power supply, APEN pointed out that department had since 2005-06, proposed and repeatedly pressed for 200MVA (2x100MVA) transformer capacity at Nagarjan 132/66/33kv sub-station. Over the years,APEN said it had repeatedly highlighted that one of the old existing 20MVA out of 60MVA was on the verge of breakdown and urgently needed to be upgraded and replaced by the new proposed transformer.
Faced with the crisis, APEN said one 100MVA transformer was arranged without financial sanction.
Sanction was made for the single 100MVA but further funding was stopped and not forthcoming, leading to the present crisis. Hence unless the required additional capacity of 100MVA is added, as proposed by the DoP since 2005, Dimapur shall continue to face power crisis, cautioned APEN.
APEN also warned that Kohima faces imminent power disruption in the coming winter as the 132/33kv 24MVA sub-station at Kohima is also overloaded by 40%. If a single transformer in this station goes down, Kohima shall be plunged into complete darkness, as there is not a single spare on standby.
APEN reminded the government that despite launching the Power Reforms & Restructuring Study 2003 and its report submitted during 2006 no action has been taken to implement them.
Highlighting on the issue between service to consumers and revenue collection APEN said adequate power supply should come first for any responsible government after which the issue of revenue comes later. In this regard APEN said that the Government must fulfill its obligations first and then only demand upon the citizens to fulfill theirs.