Power disruption due to delay in tree-felling

Visakhapatnam: The pre-monsoon inspection of trees, coming into contact with electrical wires, has not been trimmed due to Samaikyandhra protests and other agitations.

The EPDCL normally goes after tall trees and cuts them to size, literally for protecting electrical wires, during monsoon that entrap the overhead wires. Consequently, many areas witness power disruptions due to falling of tress during the monsoons   and other problems. Now, the Corporation has started the activity, but it’s too late.

High winds, especially when combined with precipitation from seasonal storms, can cause damage to electricity utility systems, resulting in service interruptions to large numbers of electricity consumers.

Such power outages are caused by damage from trees and branches falling on electricity distribution lines and poles. This severely interrupts power supply, primarily in coastal areas, that are vulnerable to natural disasters.

There are around 52 lakh consumers in the entire discom limits with 5481 km of 33 KV lines and 38,067 km of 11 KV lines in the entire five circles. Branches and uprooted trees, falling on electricity lines, is the main reason for the frequent power cuts in city limits during the monsoon in Visakhapatnam, said electricity department officials. Some consumers said that the power disruptions are worst during heavy gales and thunderstorms, but officials claim that the situation has improved.

It is normal practice to implement the trimming of trees before the onset of monsoon for averting frequent power outages and other damages to equipment and power. But, this time almost all employees were on protests demanding Samaikyandhra in the discom operation circles and the steps to manage such preventive measures have not been taken up on time.”

There were so many organizational and other reasons for failing to do the activity in all the circles. But, now, though it is late, we are taking up work on war-foot-basis. Now, majority hurdles were cleared in city areas and made free from power troubles,” said a senior official from the EPDCL. But he also pointed out that majority trees in the city are not that much strong to sustain during gales and continuous thundershowers.