Funds sanctioned but cables are delayed: What’s hindering power network boost

Noida: A total of Rs 248 crore has been sanctioned for augmenting power infrastructure in the past two years, but delay in procuring equipment like cables, feeders, poles and panels has hit repairs. Officials said there have been delays in procuring cables as vendors were failing to keep up with demands from other districts as well.
Meanwhile, the power department is utilising spare cables to address outage issues of 11kV and 33kV lines.
"We have found some spare cables in stock which have been lying for some time. We are fixing it and will utilise it to address outage issues in areas having more problems. It is noted that if an 11kV line trips, often it results in the tripping of a 33kV line too. We are trying to fix that with new cables," said Harish Bansal, chief zonal engineer, Noida power department, PVVNL.
According to sources, budget sanctions are still lacking compared to the vast amount of work required for infrastructure revamp across the city. The release of funds has also been slow, leading to further delays.
"The major cause of tripping, voltage fluctuations, and local faults are the old, dilapidated cables which are often found loose as low as 10ft from the ground. These need to be laid underground and should be of quality material," said Vikas Jain, state president of Uttar Pradesh Yuva Vyapar Mandal (UPYVM).
Similar issues of delays in acquiring equipment are related to the replacement/repair of rusted, damaged distribution boxes, electricity panels, switch-bars, transformer enclosures, etc. Additionally, sectors 46-47 have been noted as a major problem area. To tackle this, the power department has made a separate feeder for Barola village, which has taken the village's load off from the Sector 46-47 area.
Bansal further said that maintenance repair work is planned in Ethara village in Greater Noida West, near Sector 4. "It's a major problem area. We have undertaken different works planned to improve supply in the area," said Bansal. Along with this, pruning of trees is also being done in different areas in the city, he added.
The initial deadline for repair and maintenance work for FY 2023-24 was March 31, which was later extended to April and then Aug 31 due to delays in equipment procurement. The budget for these was Rs 123 crore. So far, around 81% of the work has been completed. Now, MD PVVNL Isha Duhan has given officials another two months to complete the remaining work.