The Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST) Undertaking has approved a INR 20-crore emergency action plan to address recurring power outages in Girgaum and nearby parts of south mumbai. The decision was taken on Tuesday, June 2, during a meeting of the BEST committee.
The approval came after the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) threatened to walk out of the meeting. This comes after long power cuts in south Mumbai neighbourhoods.
On Monday, residents stormed the BEST centre at Pathakwadi to protest against a power outage that lasted nearly 12 hours on Sunday. Areas affected included Girgaum, Bhuleshwar, Opera House, Thakurdwar, Kalbadevi and surrounding localities.
According to reports, residents faced difficulties getting information during the outage. The BEST administration reportedly did not issue updates on the disruption. Now, BEST has presented the proposal.
The action plan focuses on these areas:
* Increasing manpower
* Deploying additional equipment
* Strengthening fault response systems
* Improving power restoration efforts.
As part of the plan, 690 field personnel will be recruited to speed up the detection and repair of cable faults. The undertaking will also temporarily deploy 127 drivers and 100 mechanics from its traffic division to assist with electricity-related operations.
The plan also includes the use of 350 diesel generator sets, aerial lifting equipment and trained personnel. This will help restore power more quickly during major breakdowns. A second fault control centre will also be established in Tardeo. The new facility is expected to improve monitoring and response during emergencies.
Officials have been directed to repair major cable faults on a war footing. The goal is to reduce disruptions in the affected areas. Interestingly, much of the underground cable network in the region was installed between 1985 and 1990. The cables are currently under heavy stress because of increased electricity consumption during this year’s intense summer.
Reports suggest that some of the problematic cables are located up to 15 feet below railway tracks. As a result, inspection work requires permission from railway authorities before the cables can be accessed.
On Tuesday, the BEST undertaking also acknowledged the condition of its electricity department. It stated that the department had been severely affected by a 12-year period of austerity measures, limited recruitment and a lack of investment in the power distribution wing.