Bescom feeder line work hit by component shortage

Bescom feeder line work hit by component shortage

Bescom feeder line work hit by component shortage
S Lalitha, Sep 10, Bangalore:

An exclusive feeder line being readied by Bescom for the Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) to ensure uninterrupted water supply to West and North Bangalore in the event of power disruptions has hit a roadblock.

The BWSSB pumping station at Srigandha Kaval, Sunkadakatte in Bangalore. DH photo
Bescom had proposed the laying of the 4.5 km-line between its Byadarahalli sub station and the Srigandha Kaval pumping station in March this year in the face of the frequent power cuts taking place then. BWSSB had also sanctioned a sum of Rs 30 lakh to Bescom for laying it.

The areas of Nandini Layout and Rajajinagar in Bangalore West and R T Nagar, Malleswaram, Srirampura and its surroundings in Bangalore North were expected to benefit when the line begins functioning.

Shortage of component
A top official overseeing the work had then given an assurance that the work would be completed within a couple of months. Admitting delay in completion of the High Tension (HT) line, Bescom officials said that it was experiencing a shortage of a vital component called ‘Braker,’ which was necessary to complete the laying of the line.
“We had requested Karnataka Power Transmission Corporation Limited some time back for it and since they do not have spares of the same presently, the completion of the line was getting delayed,” said a top official.

The HT line will be equipped with a Rabbit Conductor and it will be able to carry load up to 3,000 KVA. Another official said that they were now exploring alternate arrangements to complete the work. “We are planning to make use of a Ring Main Unit of 11 Kilo Volts capacity, located near the station, to ensure that the job gets completed.”

Officials also assured that it would be completed within 20 days. When completed, this would be the 17th dedicated feeder line to supply electricity to a water pumping station.

Water supply affected
A top BWSSB source said that they did have a problem in supplying water on time in the above specified areas earlier due to the two-hour disruption in power supply which affected pumping of water at the Srigandha Kaval station.
“The feeder line is something we look at as a permanant solution. Right now, it is not causing any problems as there is continuous power supply.” However, if it is not completed soon, we might have big problems when summer strikes, he added.