Chandigarh gets ready for better power supply thanks to reforms programme

CHANDIGARH : The power consumers in Chandigarh can reasonably look forward to fewer power cuts and minimal fluctuations in future.

The hope stems from the decision of the UT Administration to implement the "Restructured Accelerated Power Development and Reforms Programme' (R-APDRP) of the Central Government. It aims at beefing up and equipping the transmission and distribution network in Chandigarh; cutting down on transmission losses; and evening out the load factor, with active assistance of information technology (IT).

A quadripartite agreement will be signed shortly by the Government of India, the Power Finance Corporation, State Power Utility (Electricity Wing of UT Administration), and the UT Administration, to implement the programme.

Outlining the broad contours of the project, Sanjay Kumar, UT Power-cum-Finance Secretary, said here today that IT consultant for the project had already been finalized. Tenders for the purpose had been called by the UT Administration in which three bidders from the list, empanelled by the Nodal Agency, participated; and the North Delhi Power Limited (NDPL) has been shortlisted for the job.

This initiative aims at putting in place baseline data, fixation of accountability and reduction of AT and C losses by strengthening and upgrading the sub-transmission and distribution network, and adoption of IT in the XI Five-Year Plan.

The project has been divided into two parts. Part A will cover compilation of baseline data and IT application for energy accounting, auditing and consumer services; automatic data logging and meter reading; feeder segregation and ring fencing. Part B will include renovation, modernization and strengthening of 11-KV-level sub-stations, transformers and centres; re-conducting of lines at 11-KV-level and below; load bifurcation and load balancing; installation of capacitor banks and mobile service centres and strengthening of 33 KV of 66 kv sub-stations.

"The Government of India will provide 100 per cent loan for implementation of Part A of the project, including the IT application; and 25 per cent for Part B. The counterpart funding will be done by the Power Finance Corporation (PFC)/REC to the extent of 75 per cent. The power utility has to ensure that the balance funds for Part B of the project were fully tied up within two months.

"Within a stipulated time-frame and duly verified by the third party independent evaluation agency, the entire amount of loan for Part A and up to 50 per cent loan for Part B, shall be converted into grant progressively on achievement of AT and C loss reduction targets by the steering committee of the Union Ministry of Power", disclosed Mr. Surinder Pal, Chief Engineer, UT Administration.

The third party independent evaluation agency will act to establish base line data and verify yearly loss levels against the benchmark parameters to assess claims for conversion of loan into grant for Part A and Part B, and submit periodic reports to the Nodal Agency, Pal added.
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