DVB fails to keep promise

NEW DELHI, June 7: The Delhi Vidyut Board has still not fulfilled a commitment it made almost two months ago to install dry8217; transformers in cinema halls and other high rise buildings. Dry transformers are believed to be safer than oil run transformers and the step was intended to prevent a reoccurrence of incidents like the Uphaar tragedy a year ago. The job, for cinema halls at least was to have been completed in a week8217;s time.

On April 13, DVB chairman Navin Chawla had announced that seven of the city8217;s cinema halls which had oil run transformers in the basement would be installed with dry transformers within a week. Since the normal transformers use oil, any short circuit can lead to the oil catching fire leading to a potential fire hazard. The dry transformers, which do not use combustible materials like oil, were also to be installed in Nehru Place 30 transformers and Rajendra Place 12 transformers. At the time twelve transformers had already been purchased for installation.

Yet hitches seemed to have developed in the plan. Of the seven cinema halls, at least two 8212; Savitri and Archana had been closed for a long time.

However, two others, which are functioning 8212; Rachna and Westend have not been fitted out with the transformers. S.C. Chattopadhyay, ACE Tamp;D, Central Circle said: 8220;The transformers had been delivered from BHEL and Kirloskar. The dry transformer needs some special protection while it is being installed. This protection scheme is yet to be negotiated. Also it has not been decided as yet as to who is to install the protection equipment.8221;Similarly in Nehru Place too, the transformers have yet to be installed.

S.K. Bahl, ACE Tamp;D South Circle said part of the problem was the fact that the Delhi Vidyut Board had not had experience of installing dry transformers before. 8220;We have to conduct some technical tests before the transformers can be installed,8221;he said.