Low voltage hits Solan water supply
Ambika Sharma
Solan, February 23
Voltage fluctuations at Gaura-based sub-station in Rajgarh sub-division of Sirmaur district is adversely affecting a lift water supply scheme that caters to Solan town.
‘POWER DIVERTED’
Though sub-station was set up at Gaura for the lift water supply scheme, it is being used to supply power to the nearby areas. — Usha Sharmar, Solan MC Mayor
Though the sub-station was set up after spending crores of rupees by the Jal Shakti Department (JSD) solely for the lift water scheme, the Power Department had used it to supply electricity to nearby areas of Sirmaur district. Owing to this, there was voltage fluctuation as water was being lifted in the evening, said the field staff of the JSD.
“Solan city has been facing undue water shortage as lifting of water is hit at Gaura. The sub-station set up by the JSD for its water supply scheme is being used to
supply power to the nearby areas.
This leads to voltage fluctuation owing to excess load being put on the sub-station and affects smooth lifting of water. At times only two of the four motors are operational due to low voltage,” said Solan Municipal Corporation Mayor Usha Sharma.
The officials of the Electrical System Division have agreed in a letter that from 6 am to 11 am and from 7 pm to 10 pm, the voltage at 132 KV sub-station drops to as low as 116 KV owing to heavy load. The voltage, however, shoots up to 145 KV from 1 am to 5 am owing to lighter load.
This shows that the voltage shoots up at night when there is less load, while it plummets when there is heavy load in the morning and late evening. This is especially so during the winter season when usage of electrical appliances is maximum during the morning and evening hours.
“Owing to this fluctuation, the required 33 KV voltage cannot be achieved as the voltage is beyond the automatic voltage regulation of 132 KV transformer installed at the said sub-station at Gaura. The Jal Shakti Department has been directed to control the voltage by changing the tap position of the power transformer,” said Gaurav Adhir, Senior Executive Engineer, Electrical System Division, in a letter written to his counterpart at Rajgarh.
The officials have expressed inability to provide 33 KV voltage all the time to the lift water supply scheme Gaura owing to this limitation.
They have suggested the JSD to install 11 KV HT stabiliser of suitable capacity to run four motors simultaneously so that in case of voltage fluctuation the requisite power is available to the lift water scheme without any fluctuation.
Instead of setting up their own sub-station for the domestic consumers, the power board was drawing supply from a sub-station dedicated to the lift water scheme.
