Kerala State Electricity Board has made elaborate arrangements to ensure uninterrupted power supply to Sabarimala during the forthcoming Mandalam-Makaravilakku festival, said K.Radhakrishnan, KSEB Chief Engineer (Distribution).
Mr Radhakrishnan told The Hindu that the board has already completed maintenance of the transmission and distribution lines leading to Sabarimala. The entire stretch of the transmission and distribution lines have been patrolled to locate the weak points and remedial measures have been taken.
He said the major work to fully utilise the potential of the 66 kv sub-stations at Pampa Triveni and Kochu Pampa was in its final stage.
The distribution transformers at Nilackal, Pampa and along the Pampa-Sannidhanam trekking path have been overhauled.
Addressing a meeting, to review the arrangements to be made for the annual pilgrim season, held at Kakkad House at Seethathode on Saturday, T.J.Narayanan, Chief Engineer (Transmission), said that KSEB would implement a major project for upgrading the power transmission lines between Pallom and Sabarimala as well as the sub-stations from 66 kv to 110 kv before the next pilgrimage season itself.
Mr Radhakrishnan said the board has started maintenance work of street lights along all the roads leading to Sabarimala so as to complete it in a time-bound manner.
He said the communication systems at various electrical sub-stations and other offices have been revamped with a view to facilitate speedy restoration of power supply in case of an emergency situation.
Mr K.Sanalkumar, executive engineer (communications), said steps have been taken to ensure proper functioning of a three-tier communication system during the annual pilgrim season. The power line carrier communication (PLCC) system which connects the sub-stations for sending communication signals at a different frequency through the power transmission lines was in place at Triveni, Kochu Pampa and various other sub-stations between Pallom and Moozhiyar, he said.
He said land phone connections and cellular phone systems have been strengthened at various key stations in liaison with the BSNL authorities.
A.Podiyan, Deputy Chief Engineer, said KSEB has offered its technical assistance to Travancore Devaswom Board for maintaining the power system at the Aravana plant at Sannidhanam during the annual festival season, if needed.
The lighting work at Nilackal, Pampa, Sannidhanam and along the trekking path would be completed in the next few weeks, he added.
Mr Radhakrishnan said the shop owners at Pampa and Sannidhanam have been advised to move for power connection well in advance so that the inspection by the Electrical Inspectorate as well as KSEB could be completed without causing any delay in the process.
He said a new bus bar system would be commissioned at Triveni sub-station in the next two weeks to facilitate multiple sources of power to feed Sabarimala.
Ms Sujatha Gopal, Deputy Chief Engineer and Prasannakumar, Executive Engineer, also attended the meeting.
