Power starved Bihar has sought 5,000 new transformers from the central government to replace burnt transformers in rural areas.
“The government wants 5,000 transformers to replace burnt transformers installed by central agencies under the Rajiv Gandhi Gramin Vidyutikaran Yojana (RGGVY),” a Bihar State Electricity Board official said.
Officials of the energy department said millions in rural parts of Bihar have been forced to live in lantern age because thousands of transformers of 16 KVA, 25 KVA and 40 KVA have got burnt.
Bihar Energy Minister Bijendra Prasad Yadav told IANS here that more than 4,500 transformers were lying useless.
According to BSEB officials, the transformers got burnt mainly because they were taking load beyond their capacity.
Under the RGGVY scheme in 2005-06, two central agencies – the Power Grid Corp and National Hydroelectric Power Corp — installed the transformers.
Bihar has a daily requirement of 2,300-2,500 MW but generates hardly 80 to 100 MW. The supply from the central grid is only 950-1,100 MW.
“The state is facing a power deficit of about 1,000-1,200 MW a day,” Hare Ram Pandey, an official from BSEB, said.