A multi-crore Central project to cut losses in power distribution by 15 per cent will be launched in Kozhikode where severe power shortage holds public life at ransom.
Following a meeting held at the Collectorate here on Wednesday, District Collector C.A. Latha said the first phase of the Rs.198-crore Restructured Accelerated Power Development Reforms Programme would start in November in a bid to regain public trust.
The statement issued by the district administration added that the project intended “to decrease the loss in electricity distribution by 15 per cent, to increase the public trust in the electricity supply chain, and to finish the project work within the stipulated time.”
Authorities said nodal officers would be appointed for the smooth completion of the project. The programme would be implemented in two phases. The first one would see the setting up of a centralised control room at Vidyuthi Bhavan which would monitor the power supply across the district.
The statement said that project areas would be systematically sorted out and separate border and feeder meters installed to check and control the loss in distribution individually. In the second phase, 286 km of underground cable would be laid in four phases across the district. The Collector said special care would be taken not to dig up the roads at important crossings and junctions in the city for this purpose.
Other related work would include setting up of 249 transformers, drawing new overhead electricity lines and repairing and strengthening the existing ones.
The Collector has sought the support of the MLAs and local body representatives in the district while assuring them that every precaution would taken while repairing and drawing overhead power lines under the programme.
