Simhastha to get adequate power supply

Seers need not have to limit the use of air conditioners in their camps this Simhastha as the power company has installed ample infrastructure to deal with heavy load, principal secretary of state energy department IPC Kesri said here on Thursday.

During the last Simhastha in 2004, the power supply company had to ask the seers to use lesser number of air conditioners in view of the heavy load.

Addressing a press conference, Kesri said Ujjain’s power consumption at present daily is around 75 mw in peak situation and it could cross 200 mw during Simhastha and the power firm has put the required number of transformers in the Simhastha fair area so that there would not be any problem on the load issue.

Simhastha happens during summer season and large number of air conditioners are used in akhara camps. Several seers provide Swiss cottages with modern facilities for the disciples including foreigners.

He also said that a thermo vision camera has been arranged which could make out the heating of lines and any possible tripping could be averted.

Over 10,000 electric poles are being erected and around 1,700 employees would be deployed to look after the hassle-free power supply in the fair.

Managing director of MP western region power distribution company Akash Tripathi said power would be supplied at domestic tariff to religious camps whereas commercial charges would be applicable to business enterprises. It is yet to be decided whether the akharas have to pay their power bills or the state government would compensate the power company for it.

He said work worth over Rs 110 crore have been carried out for the fair and backup power arrangements in the form of generators and batteries would be in place at the 50 odd crucial spots like ghats, temples and others.

Tripathi said the facility of booking power disruption complaint through centrally toll free number 1912 for domestic consumers is being extended to Ujjain. The scheme is already working well in Indore, Burhanpur as around 550 complaints are being solved within stipulated time of 3 hours daily.