Since the last 4 months, we do not have government electricity connection to the
campus.
Everything started off sometime in the middle of June, when
the transformer that supplies our hospital including the surrounding villages blew up. Historically,
the transformer was installed for the use of the hospital, but over time, the
local villages also took connections from the same one. In spite of multiple
requests for a separate transformer for the hospital, there was no response from the electricity
department.
After the transformer blew up, we were into major trouble
before we knew it. We already had a transformer donated from one of our sister units. We had applied for getting a separate connection. It was taking time.
Meanwhile the replacement of the old electricity board transformer was not of
the same quality as that of the previous one. The old one had copper winding.
The new one had aluminium winding, which ensured that the quality was much inferior
to the old one.
We connected the original load to the new transformer. It
was just not able to manage the load. The villagers wanted to have the
transformer all for themselves. They insisted that we get a separate
transformer. We did not press the matter as we did not want to take any step
which will antagonise the local village. Unfortunately, none of the village
leaders thought about the need for hospital to have electricity.
We went to the Electricity Board and told of our
predicament. It took quite a long time for permission to reach us.
Unfortunately, after permission reached us, we were in for more trouble than
expected.
The new transformer that we got as a donation blew up. Not
once but twice. To cut the story short, we have sent the transformer for a
complete overhaul. It would take another 10 days before it is ready.
Since June middle, the hospital is only running on generator
except for couple of days when the transformer worked well. Our extra costs for
diesel for the generators is almost 200,000 INR per month.
Our maintenance department under Dinesh was totally involved
in this matter for the last 4 months. We thank the Lord for this group who
toiled day and night to ensure that we would have answers.
Dinesh and co. trying to get the transformer repaired the first time it blew up. |
View from one of the transmission towers. Pic. courtesy. Mr. A Dinesh |
There is a major challenge here too. So far, the electricity
transmission lines have been used to only a low voltage. With the arrival of
the new substations, the voltage has gone up to normal levels. We hear that
quite often there are breakdowns in transmission. Please pray that all this
will be rectified by the time the refurbished transformer arrives. Considering
the need of round the clock electricity, we also need to plan for one more
transformer as a standby.
We request prayers that we would have
electricity by the end of this month. Please pray for financial resources too
as almost 500,000 INR has been spent so far. And now, there is the cost of
refurbishing the transformer as well as purchasing a stand-by transformer.
The transformer on it's way to Ranchi for an overhaul . . . |
Poor performance of electricity boards is a big hurdle ! Privatization is the only solution I see. Local power plants (renewable) is another solution !
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