Above 2,567 applications for spl CESC connections at Kali Puja pandals

Kolkata: The number of applications for special CESC connections to Kali Puja pandals has already crossed 2,567.

A CESC spokesman said on Thursday that the number this year is expected to be higher than the 2675 connections applied for in 2018. Special power connections during Durga Puja this year was 4485.

According to a CESC spokesman, the number of Kali Pujas in Kolkata is far higher than Durga Puja. However, many Kali Puja pandals are smaller and quite often the organisers manage without a special power connection. Moreover, there are innumerable family pujas. CESC, this year, is ready to meet any rise in demand.

The maximum demand for power in CESC on Friday (October 25, 2019) is estimated around 1850 MW, which is slightly higher than the last year's (November 5, 2018) 1799 MW. Moreover, power supply for Durga Puja is needed for 6/7 days, which is longer than the Kali Puja demand.

Last year, CESC power consumption at Kali Puja pandals exceeded 1 million units. This is expected to rise this year – although the organisers are increasingly using LEDs.

Avijit Ghosh, vice-president – distribution services said in Kolkata today that CESC is ready to fully meet the city's Diwali requirements and the accent this year is on electrical safety in homes and pandals and reliability of supply day and night.

To attend to faults, 200 CESC emergency repair vans will be on duty day-and-night. Additionally, in different areas 100 repair teams will be located. Standby generators will be kept ready at strategic locations. CESC will be in constant coordination with all agencies such as police, municipalities and fire brigade. For communication, two special helplines will be available to Puja organisers. They are 98310 79666 and 98310 83700.