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Power cuts continue in Delhi's posh areas

Staff Reporter

People in NDMC area suffer for fourth day in a row

NEW DELHI: People in the Capital's posh NDMC area continued to suffer in the sweltering heat for the fourth day in a row on Friday with no electricity for the better part of the day. The electricity department staff spent the whole day trying to repair a transformer that collapsed because of overheating.

"The transformer got overheated and there was no alternative power supply. It was a dangerous situation as the oil had leaked from the transformer and it could have even caused a fire,'' said an NDMC official.

After having taken almost 60 hours to repair a fault in the main feeder cable that supplied power to Lodhi Road, Khan Market, Rabindra Nagar, Rafi Marg, Pandara Road and Kota House, the power crisis on Friday exposed NDMC's inefficiency once again all to soon.

Officials, however, insisted that there was no "power crisis" and it was only load shedding because of a sudden increase in peak demand due to the summer heat.

"We had unexpected load on Friday and the demand stood at 286 MW,'' said the official.

However, with the NDMC unable to access the alternative power source because of the failed transformer, many offices in the heart of the Capital had to manage without air-conditioning.

Demand peaks

While officials asserted that the demand for electricity peaked on Friday, the load growth in the NDMC area has been on the rise since 1980. According to an assessment made by IL& FS Ecosmart Limited - consultants hired by NDMC -- the load has grown by 160 per cent from 127 MVA in 1980 to 330 MVA in 2007. The increase in demand in residential areas has been negligible, but there has been a sharp increase in demand in the commercial areas, especially during working hours.

The assessment also points to "long procedural delays'' in responding to the repair and maintenance requirements as well as old obsolete equipment.

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