In view of the power crunch Andhra Pradesh faced in the wake of the rains, AP Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu today directed the energy and power departments to deploy special breakdown restoration units in the affected areas to restore power supply on a war-footing.
He also directed them to implement a hazard-resistant electrical grid system to prevent electrocution and fires.
Disclosing the details, Ajay Jain (Principal Secretary of Energy, I&I, CRDA), after having a detailed review with K Vijayanand (Chief Managing Director of APTRANSCO), K Ranganatham (Advisor to the AP Energy Department), and M M Naik and H Y Dora (Directors of DISCOM), directed the DISCOMS to ensure that the consumer care call centres worked continuously round the clock, and apprise the public of the status of the power restoration initiative.
He also directed them to immediately educate consumers, especially farmers, on how to safeguard themselves from possible electrical hazards.
He also requested power officials / staff not to avail themselves of any holiday (paid or unpaid) till the rains subsided and the problem was solved.
Vijayanand weighed in and asked the field officers to take up the following measures at once:
1. Ensure proper earthing in all substations & distribution transformers in AP
2. Trim tree branches near the power lines
3. Re-string loose electrical lines
4. Erect intermediate poles
5. Provide stay wires
6. Provide stud poles for support
7. Replace damaged poles
The CMDs of the State DISCOMs said that none of the substations or power transformers was affected. Pole-to-pole inspections were being carried out vigorously to check the condition of the poles and insulators, the availability of spacers, and the presence of unwanted materials along the grid lines.
The Centralized Breakdown (CBD) teams were attending to all the complaints that were being received from citizens, they said.
filed in:Chandrababu Naidu, Andhra Pradesh Weather, Power Cuts & Crisis, Power Supply