Fibre glass covers for transformers

PUNE, March 16: Dogged by constant thefts of metal components of its transformers, the Pune Urban Zone PUZ of Maharashtra State Electri...

PUNE, March 16: Dogged by constant thefts of metal components of its transformers, the Pune Urban Zone PUZ of Maharashtra State Electricity Board MSEB has decided to install fibre glass external covering to its transformers in the city.

The process will soon be started on trial basis in those sections of the city from where the maximum number of transformer related thefts have been reported, said PUZ Chief Engineer Ashok Shinde at a consumers8217; meeting here yesterday.

The discussion, organised by the MSEB Subordinate Engineers8217; Association at Institution of Engineers Shivajinagar, however turned out to be a damp squib with near zero representation from the consumers. The discussion which was to discuss the consumer8217; problems served more of a grievance redressal platform for the association members.

While addressing some of the association members8217; problems a senior office bearer of MSEB remarked that the Board was contemplating on a proposal to sophisticate its communication link system.

Communication gadgets such as pagers would be distributed to the staffers concerned with the maintainence works and fault attending services of the MSEB so as to further improve the consumer services.

The senior officers described the load-shedding under present circumstances as inevitable. 8220;The demand for power during the peak hours in the afternoon and evening goes beyond the generation capacity hence the load shedding has to be carried out in phases to prevent the entire power supply system from incurring damage,8221; they said.

Speaking on the occasion the MSEB officials rued that at times they were even subjected to humilitation and physical assault from the public for the reasons beyond their control.

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8220;We have so many VIPs visiting the city daily. We have to ensure that there is no load shedding where a Minister is attending a function,quot;remarked a deputy engineer. Not alone this even local corporators organise some small level functions and expect us to comply to their demands of no power-cut in that area, he added.

Another deputy engineer called for an increase in the maintenance cost of the distribution system. He said MSEB has an installed distrubution system worth Rs 20,000 crore. Even considering the lowest annual maintanence rate of 3 per cent of the orginal value MSEB should be spending about Rs 600 crores on maintanence.

8220;However, the Board has allotted just Rs 100 crore for this purpose. How can one expect of good services in such existing conditions8221;, he argued.