NEW DELHI: Though the monsoon has given respite from the scorching heat, it has also brought its own set of issues and challenges.
The season witnesses electricity installations getting damaged, which not only results in power outages, but also mishaps. To deal with these issues, discoms have initiated a monsoon action plan and issued an advisory for consumers.
“Our discoms are fully geared for the monsoon by undertaking extensive preventive maintenance. To reduce breakdowns, measures have been taken to minimise accumulation of moisture in grids and panels,” said a BSES official.
The BSES spokesperson added that some of the unique problems during monsoon were waterlogging, strong winds uprooting trees and falling branches that damage electricity installations, resulting in outages. To ensure the safety of residents and electrical equipment, it becomes necessary to switch off power supply to an affected area.
A Tata Power Delhi Distribution Limited spokesperson said they had launched an extensive safety drive. “We are ensuring timely maintenance, inspection and checking of electrical leakage in over 1.3 lakh electrical and streetlight poles, fencing, pillar boxes, etc. The leakages found in light installations have been fixed,” he added.
“Besides this, safety inspections are being undertaken in weekly bazaars and areas with potholes. We have trimmed trees to avoid collapsing of branches on electrical installations, poles and overhead wires in north Delhi,” said the spokesperson.
As part of their monsoon action plan, the BSES discoms have raised the height of the base of transformers in low-lying areas, prevented waterlogging that could create seepage and moisture in the switchgear, and ensured proper fencing around all plinth and pole-mounted transformers. They have also established a “war room” to review complaints and resolve them quickly, and deployed Quick Response Teams to tackle exigencies.
“By adhering to simple safety guidelines and maintaining a distance from electricity infrastructure, consumers can help ensure a safe and incident-free monsoon season. Due to waterlogging, chances of electricity related mishaps are high during monsoon,” said the official.
The official added, “Residents should follow precautions, like staying away from electricity poles, sub-stations, transformers, streetlights, etc. Children should be cautioned from playing near electricity installations, even if they are barricaded. Advise them not to play in waterlogged parks.”
