VIJAYAWADA: Farmers of Vissannapet mandal will get quality power to their agriculture pumpsets by the end of this year. In the areas like Vissannapet, Tatakuntla, Gourupalem and Narsapuram, farmers will be divided into groups consisting of four to five members each and separate transformers will be allotted to each group. Instead of getting power supply directly from the 63 KV transformers, the farmers will get power from the mini transformers.

Technically known as High Voltage Distribution System (HVDS), this simplified mode of power supply to farm fields began in the district last year and farmers of as many as 15 villages in Chatrai mandal were already provided with the system. The SPDCL has installed 682 HVD systems under the limits of Chatrai sub-station by spending Rs. 3.4 crores. Power is being supplied to 1,400 pumpsets, covering an extent of over 4,000 acres of upland.

Twin objective

"We have introduced HVD systems with two objectives - prevention of power pilferage and supply of qualitative power to farmers," says the Superintending Engineer of the SPDCL, P. Anjaiah. Since all farmers under selected sub-station will have HVD systems, there is no scope for anyone to indulge in pilferage and farmers will take care of their system, he explains. The SPDCL has an advantage of reducing distribution losses and maintenance charges of transformers. If a 63 KV transformer develops some trouble, the company has to spend at least Rs. 12,000 on repairs. But, for the HVDS, the capacity of which is either 25 KV or 16 KV, the amount will be a few hundred rupees only. A 25 KV HVDS provides power either to five 5 HP pumpsets or eight 3 HP pumpsets. Similarly, a 16 KV system provides power either to three 5 HP pumpsets or five 3 HP pumpsets.

"The number of farmers under one HVDS is between three and eight. They are coordinating with one another and using pumpsets one after another. Of the 682 systems in the Chatrai division, 14 systems have failed in the last one year. This indicates that the rate of failure is very low," says Mr. Anjaiah.

Buoyed by the success, officials are now installing 750 HVD systems in the Vissannapet division by spending Rs. 4.23 crores. Farmers cultivating over 7,000 acres will benefit from the next crop season. "Only wet crop farmers will benefit from the HVD systems. In the Vissannapet area, most farmers are mango growers. Though the company has to spend huge amount on installation of HVDS, we will get returns in three to four years in the form of power bills and low maintenance expenditure," the official says.

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