Power shedding to continue until failed transformer is replaced; Siolim to be worst affected
MAPUSA
Parts of Bardez especially Siolim and Mapusa faced major power failure after one of the four main transformers at the Mapusa power sub-station failed late Sunday evening.
A fault at the 33KV line from Tivim to Mapusa sub-station which was later rectified also added to the power woes.
In a double whammy for residents of Mapusa, parts of the town also did not get water supply as the water department could not pump water to overhead water tanks due to lack of power supply.
A power transformer of 10 MVA capacity failed on Sunday late evening disrupting power supply in Siolim, parts of Mapusa and surrounding villages in Bardez.
“A 10 MVA transformer at Mapusa sub-station has developed a serious problem. Restoration work is in progress. We are trying to provide supply to maximum areas from alternate sources,” an official in the know informed The Goan.
Even as power was restored to most areas in Mapusa by Monday noon, supply went off again at around 3 pm till around 6.30 pm due to another problem at the sub-station.
“There was a ‘flash over’ at the sub-station. Unfortunate faults, coincidentally. Supply will be resumed shortly,” an engineer at the site said.
Although power department officials have been at the site and working round the clock, sources in the department said power shedding will continue in parts of Bardez until the old transformer is replaced at the sub-station.
Sources have informed that the department officials are planning to shift a transformer from Karrasvaddo to the sub-station but the entire exercise will take one or two days as the shifting requires heavy machinery and expert man power.
While the department is expected to carry out power shedding in rotation until normalcy is restored, Siolim is expected to face the brunt of the problem.
The Executive Engineer in the Mapusa Electricity Department Pradip Narvekar informed that the department has made alternate arrangements and power has been restored.
“The failed transformer at the sub-station will be soon replaced. But now we have made alternate arrangements and restored power supply to most places,” Narvekar said.
A senior engineer from the department informed that the Mapusa power sub-station requires five transformers in all but so far makes do with only four.
Further a transformer that had failed some years back has still not been replaced, he informed further.
Power from Mapusa sub-station is supplied to Mapusa, Guirim, Assagao, Anjuna, Siolim, Sodiem, Parra and other areas.
