Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company Limited (MSEDCL) has started securing its transformers in State as part of a broader move aimed at public safety. The company is putting up iron fencing around the transformers that would act as a safety guard, ruling out any accidental intrusion that results in catastrophe. The dimension of the fence is roughly 3x5 metre at most of the sites. At some places, the ring around the transformers might increase depending upon the assets on ground.

 

This is depending upon the required load, two transformers are put up by MSEDCL, ensuring that, there is no drop in the required power supply and therefore, the iron fence size too is going to increase. This is a new concept and in Nagpur District, about 900 locations have been identified. In neighbouring Wardha district, which comes under Nagpur Urban Circle of MSEDCL, there are about 100 locations that have been identified for ring fencing, said Yogesh Vitankar, Deputy PRO, Nagpur Urban Circle. As to idea, it is basically a security parameter that encloses the DTCs having transformers that have different ratings like 16/25/63/100/200 KVA.

 

The transmission lines are of 11 KV and 33 KV that energise the different utilities in the nearby areas. Basically, the plan is to ensure that no unauthorised person should stray near the distribution boxes. It insulates the MSEDCL assets that ensures uninterrupted power transmission. In past, there have been instances, when some person has accidentally opened the highly dangerous power boxes. Vitankar said, a time period of 3 months has been earmarked for safeguarding all the identified DTCs and at many places, the yellow coloured fences are already visible. Although the number of distribution points are more than that, in first phase, MSEDCL has categorised them as per high risk, those most vulnerable, ones located at crowded public places and as such.

 

Nagpur District might get additional security fences in near future as Kalyan Circle has declined the grants provided for putting up the iron fence. Basically, 25 sq.mtrs land is reserved in public places for putting up the transformers. Now H frames for double pole is being erected for 25 to 100 KVA transformers. Another major reason for isolating the transformer from any outside activity is instances wherein people have set afire to garbage in its vicinity. These, apart from damaging the crucial electrical infrastructure, can also become dangerous in case the fire spreads fast to other equipment.