Power transmission, distribution lines: poor maintenance, replacements by NTDC cause breakdowns
January 09, 2015RECORDER REPORT
Poor maintenance and timely renewals and replacements of transmission and distribution lines of NTDC has caused power breakdowns from the southern to northern parts of the country. According to the sources, the power breakdowns have crossed all standards including those of Saifi-Saidi and NEPRA. For example, the power breakdown has registered 29 percent rise in last five months of current fiscal year against corresponding period.
The power sector experts have pointed out that the Discos under the NTDC are least bothered about climate changes, dust balls, fog, smog and such other factors, which require periodic maintenance besides renewals and replacements of faulty parts of transmission and distribution lines as per the well defined SOPs.
However, no such steps have been taken despite the fact that 500KV line of NTDC from Guddu to Dadu had tripped on December 21, 2014 due to heavy fog in early hours, causing a massive power breakdown in various parts of Sindh, including Karachi and Balochistan. The power sector circles criticised the field staff of NTDC who was bound to check the insulators, jumpers, breakers, lines by cutting the trees, washing of transmission and distribution lines and cleaning of jumpers and insulators to avoid power disconnections.