Power utilities put on alert due to heavy rains

Hyderabad, July 20 : Keeping in view of the unprecedented heavy rains in Adilabad, Nizamabad, Warangal, Khammam, Karimnagar, Ongole and East Godavari Districts, the APTRANSCO and DISCOMs have taken measures like deploying the special break down restoration teams in flood affected areas on war footing for restoration power supply.

APTRANSCO CM Suresh Chanda, while reviewing the power supply position and restoration works in the flood affected areas, with the CMDs of the DISCOMs, has cautioned the officials to be alert to attend to face any eventualities in view of the forecast issued by the Meteorology Department that heavy rains may continue further for another 48 Hrs in Coastal and Telangana regions.

Suresh Chanda, who has also appraised M Sahoo, Principal Secretary (Energy) about the precautionary steps taken by the Power Utilities for power supply restoration works in flood affected areas, directed the CMDs of DISCOMs to deploy more special Power Breakdown teams in flood affected districts to ensure restoration of power and minimise the inconvenience to the public. He also advised that adequate stock of Distribution Transformers, Poles and other material be kept available at field offices so that works related to the power restoration can be completed without any delay.

He assured the CMDs of the DISCOMs not to worry about the funds required at this moment to attend the break down works of this scale. CMD mentioned that he has received phone calls from Public Representatives during the late night hours, referring to the hanging 11KV line near the Bogula Vaagu in Ajam Nagar of Bhupalpally Mandal of Warangal District. He advised that public shall be alerted through media and through tom-tom in villages about the possible electrocutions due to fallen live wires in the flood water etc., Officials of DISCOMs informed that precautionary measures have already been taken to avoid the possible electrocutions and awareness programmes.

NPDCL CMD Karthikeya Mishra informed that due to the heavy rains, power supply to about 80 villages in Khammam district and about 10 villages in Nizamabad district got affected and the restoration works have been taken up on war footing in the affected areas. He also informed that a special monitoring cell has been put in action to review the power supply situation in all the districts of NPDCL.

The NPDCL has been badly hit by the record breaking rains in Northern Telangana region. Suresh Chanda appealed the General Public, Public Representatives and local officials of the District Administration to cooperate with the workers and officials of the power utilities in power supply restoration and rectification works, which are taken up on war footing and requested them to inform the officials of the DISCOMs of any loose lines, damaged poles, fire sparks etc, so that necessary precaution action can be taken up immediately to avoid any possible electrocutions in the flood affected districts. INN