Outdated generators may put EB in further troubles
The Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB) will fall into serious power generation troubles if steps are not taken immediately to solve the problems it is facing in various hydel power stations. Experts point out that the problem at the Moozhiyar power house of the Sabarigiri project, where six 60-mw generators are lying idle due to technical snags in some of them, is just an indicator of the more serious crises the electricity board will face in the immediate future if necessary steps are not taken to rectify the problems. There is a feeling even among the officials of the KSEB that the present 25 percent power cut for industry could be avoided or at least reduced if timely steps were taken for solve the problems. Lack of rains alone is not the issue, they say, adding the idleness of generators also is a big reason for the present power crunch. Experts in the KSEB say that though the generators at four major power stations are outdated, no steps have still been taken to replace or overhaul them. As per the stipulations of the Central Electricity Authority, the safe duration of a generator is 35 years. If this stipulation is respected, the generators at the Peringalkuthu, Sholayar and Kuttyadi hydel power stations could not function now. The generators at Peringalkuthu were commissioned in 1957, those of Sholayar in 1966 and the turbines at Kuttyadi were commissioned in 1972. Experts say that running these generators after several repairs is hazardous as these could balk any time. The generator at the Moolamattom Power Station in Phase I of the Idukki hydel project was commissioned in 1976, and as per the CEA stipulation, it can run for another three years. But the Canadian company, which had supplied and installed the generator, has already warned that it has to be replaced immediately. Generator 4 of the Moozhiyar Power House of the Sabarigiri hydel project, which had exploded sometime back, had been pressed into service with necessary maintenance after expiry of its life period. Referring to this incident, experts in the Electricity Board say that continuous maintenance would not be sufficient to keep generators in good health and that the best option was to replace the generators that have outrun their life period. There is also opinion that the negligence of the board to repeated requests for filling vacancies in key areas also has led to serious problems in the functioning of the generating division. It is said that as of now several posts of valve house operators, turners, welders, crane operators and supervisors are lying vacant, and this has already created problems in the functioning of generating stations. Board sources say that the regular practice is to promote officials to top positions just before their retirement, which leads them to adopt a cold approach to the affairs of the board. A proposal is already before the board that such a situation could be avoided by appointing officials from the Indian Engineering Service in the top posts. They also say that the lack of coordination between the civil and electrical engineering sections in the generation division is also causing troubles in the maintenance of generators. Meanwhile, there are reports that the KSEB had failed miserably in effectively carrying out the investigations into the burst in the penstock pipe leading to the Panniyar power house on September 16 last, in which eight persons had been killed. It is alleged that the board had failed to continue the probe though the Energy Secretary had filed the report after concluding his investigations. It is also said that there were serious lapses in the procedures for inviting tenders for the repair of the burst penstock. The penstock pipes were originally of 10-cm in thickness but the thickness at the portion where the blast occurred had come down to less than 5 mm due to corrosion. It is said that the maintenance section had failed to notice this deterioration in the condition of the pipe despite repeated complaints and warning from people living in the locality. The assumption is that the 'hammer effect' formed due to sudden restriction of water flow through the pipe had led to the burst. The failure of the surge shaft, used for controlling the pressure inside the pipe, to function properly, and the lack of experience of the workers also could have contributed to the tragedy.
