Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, November 20:
The statement issued by the State Electricity Department on November 9 in which electricity load shedding schedules for the entire State was shown has appalled and outraged the people of Churachandpur.
While the statement stat-ed that the load shedding schedule presently followed in the outskirts of Imphal and other districts is from midnight till 5 am daily and one hour daily during the period from 5 am till 9 am, the reality here is so different that many people are left fuming with rage.
Talking to The Sangai Express on Thursday, the EE/ Electricity, CCpur division L Gulapi Singh clarified that the schedule presently followed is 5-9 pm on alternate days and from midnight till 8 am on all days.
When pointed out that the electricity hardly ever come on during daytime which is the on-period in principle, he said that while power is charged on all feeding during the period, it has be shut down as and when the power consumed exceeded the load capacity as that will lead to a breakdown.
There are presently two 5MVA transformers at Khengjang whose combined capacity is 400 amperes.
When all the three feeders are charged together, they consumed more than 500 amperes which is far beyond the load capacity.
The irregular electricity has hit the small businesses hard and many of them are running at high losses.
Gulapi also maintained that the only solution for now is to install one more 5MVA transformer for the town.
When reminded that Phungzathang Tonsing, as Power Minister had said that the same is in the process of being installed about a year back, he emphasized that it is yet to be done.
Admitting that the people of Churachandpur are doubly suffering as load shedding has to be resort-ed to as the supply could not cope with the demand at the moment even during the on-period, Gulapi said that the department has no adequate manpower to conduct raids on unauthorized use of heaters or power theft on a daily basis.
He however, said that the Government is planning to institute a special court (Electricity) to try cases relating to offences under Electricity Act 2003.The additional district and sessions judges of Imphal East and West are appointed judges for the same, he said.
CCpur electricity division falls under Manipur West under the order, he added.