State to set up 177 new power sub-stations in 2 yrs

The state Power department has decided to set up around 177 sub-stations across the state to provide high quality electricity and also to address low voltage problems that still persist in some areas.

State Power minister Sobhandeb Chattopadhyay on Thursday said that around 177 sub-stations of varied capacities will be constructed in the next two years. The main purpose of this initiative is to provide quality electricity to people. Setting up of new sub-stations will also solve the problems of low voltage in some parts of the state.

The minister also reminded that around 44 sub-stations were being constructed in 2016-17, many of which have already been constructed. Altogether, 640 sub-stations have so far been set up in the state.

The state government will provide land to set up the stations in some places for which the government will buy lands. To mitigate low voltage problems in some areas, 25 EHV sub-stations will also be constructed within two years, the minister said.

After coming to power, the Mamata Banerjee-government has done a great deal of work to construct sub-stations so that problems related to electricity, which were a major cause of concern during the Left Front government, could be mitigated.

It may be mentioned here that Bengal was the first among the other states to complete the project of rural electrifications. Apart from a few villages, all villages across the states were already brought under the coverage of electricity.

Chattopadhyay on Thursday held a video conference with the district magistrates discussing various issues related to the problems faced by the Power department. In the video conference, magistrates of 20 districts and senior power officials from the district were asked to stress on revenue collection.

The minister has advised the district magistrates to take a micro view of low voltage problems and extend their support for building up additional infrastructure.

It may be mentioned here that the number of customers of West Bengal State Electricity Distribution Company Limited (WBSEDCL) has gone up to 170 lakh from 85 lakh of 2011. In Thursday's video conference, Principal Secretary of Power department and other senior officials of the department were also present.