Problems in power transmission, distribution and maintenance in Nagaland has reached a critical stage and could virtually collapse in the coming summer months, as the Department of Power (DoP) faces deficiency in allocation of fund under Plan and Non-Plan which would adversely affect the elements of power, such as – generation, transmission, distribution, revenue, housing and communication.
This note of lament and caution was contained in a memorandum addressed to the chief secretary issued by the Association of Power Engineers of Nagaland (APEN) president Er. Shikato Sema and general secretary Er. Rukongutuo Suohu.
The signatories pointed out that since 2009-10 onwards, the department of Power has been receiving deficient fund which association had earlier also brought to the notice of the government on July 28,2015.
The DoP has been going through difficult periods for upkeep of its assets and related activities in providing electricity to consumers due to deficient funds and the biggest gap was being felt in major load centres such as –Dimapur, Chumukedima,Kohima and Mokokchung etc, stated APEN.
The Association of Power Engineers of Nagaland also pointed out that recent incidents/events in Mokokchung, Kiphire, Pfutsero etc. where power outage could not be restored for nearly a month due to damage of power transformers and where prompt replacement could not be taken up owing to lack of funds “cannot be ruled out from happening in other parts also, if the present trend continues”.
Dwelling on the imbalance in fund allocation to the power department, the Association of Power Engineers of Nagaland pointed out that the government of India held the view that under the new Dispensation of Fund of the 14th Finance Commission, Nagaland has been adequately provided fund for development.
However, the association said that instead of “redeeming” the department of power, the state only meted out “step motherly treatment” to the power sector thereby reducing its status as “ least priority” with regard to fund allocation and not acknowledging electricity as an essential service.
This apathetic attitude among the government echelons has instilled a sense of insecurity in the minds of APEN members, who would eventually bear the brunt of public ire, the memorandum said.
APEN also maintained that it would be unfair for the state government to expect the DoP to deliver power to users without maintaining the lines and machines(transformers) which need round the clock supervision and also to expect the department to perform on the revenue front without adequate support from the government.
The association expressed apprehension that any major breakdown cannot be ruled out during the coming summer months since there has been no capacity addition, non-purchase of transformers, spares since the past several years which have rendered the department of power “helpless”.
In the light of the above, the signatories have urged upon the chief secretary to take serious note of the “avoidable impending worsening situation by according the highest priority while allocating fund to the department, under both Plan and Non-Plan”.