Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit on Saturday pinned the blame on local faults for the power cuts that get reported in the city. Ms. Dikshit said the condition of power supply in the city has improved significantly and power cuts, if any, were only because of local faults.
Speaking at the inauguration of a 220 kV sub-station at Ridge Valley (Dhaula Kuan), Ms. Dikshit assured that normal public life will not be jeopardised by the Games.
Referring to the improvements required in the city's power supply and distribution, she said though the distribution network in the city is a challenge, she remains confident that the discoms will make it possible. She appreciated the efforts being made by the Delhi Transco for strengthening the transmission network and said the next task for them is to lay the high-tension lines under ground.
The Chief Minister said with the demand for power increasing by 10 to 15 per cent per annum and to keep pace with the requirement, companies responsible for generation, transmission and distribution of power were making their best efforts to ensure uninterrupted and quality power supply in the Capital.
The new sub-station at Ridge Valley is aimed at strengthening the transmission network.
According to DTL officials, the existing 66/33 kV sub-station at Ridge Valley supplies power to Delhi Cantonment, part of South-West Delhi and New Delhi Municipal Council areas.
“In past few years the power requirement of these areas has increased and it was decided to upgrade the sub-station to 220 kV level to meet the load growth and provide reliable and quality power supply to the respective areas. Since the sub-station falls in the notified protected area, additional land was not allowed by the Delhi Development Authority for establishing conventional 220 kV sub-station. Therefore Delhi Transco decided to establish a gas-insulated switchgear-based sub-station within the premises of existing 66/33 kV sub-station of BSES Rajdhani Power Ltd,” said an official.
The new grid station will also serve as a back up for the airport and Central Delhi.
The space for the sub-station was provided in 2009 by BRPL in their existing sub-station by demolishing the old staff quarters. “This is a unique sub-station as it has been adjusted in a very limited space and constructed with state-of-the-art technology in an already energised sub station,” said Delhi Chief Secretary Rakesh Mehta.
The new sub-station that cost Rs.11 crore has transformation capacity of 320 MVA with a provision to add one more transformer of 160 MVA as per the future power requirement of the area.
