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Govt. launches projects to prevent power losses

CHANDIGARH: The Punjab Government has approved two projects worth Rs.3225 crore for augmenting, modernising and upgrading the existing power transmission and distribution (T&D) systems in Ludhiana, Amritsar, Jalandhar, Bathinda, Mohali and Patiala districts.

According to an official release here, the decision was announced by Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal after presiding over a high-level meeting of the Punjab State Electricity Board (PSEB) here late on Thursday evening.

While disclosing that about Rs.800 crore of the seed money for these projects would be raised by the State government, the Chief Minister said the much needed augmentation of the entire power network system in urban as well as in rural sectors had become mandatory in view of 23.91 per cent losses incurred due to snags in the transmission system.

The State was losing nearly Rs.1,000 crore annually on this count which was much higher than the national figure of 15 per cent, he added.

Mr. Badal said the government had approved Rs.1,990 crore for the transmission project and Rs.1235 crore for the distribution project and both these would be completed in two-and-a-half years, resulting in a 15 per cent reduction of losses.

To control power theft and reduce T&D losses, 35 lakh electric meters would be replaced by electro mechanical meters at a cost of Rs.175 crore within the next two years, Mr. Badal added .

Talking about measures being taken to curtail power losses, PSEB Chairman Y. S. Ratra said the High Voltage Distribution System for tube-wells was being introduced besides ensuring proper installation of capacitors at all premises to stabilise voltage.

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