36 years and counting: Adhi Kot Grid Station awaits upgrade

Old installation struggles to provide required voltage to 250,000 consumers of Noorpur Thal

NOORPUR THAL: The Adhi Kot Grid Station that was built nearly 36 years ago in Noorpur Thal tehsil has not been upgraded since its construction.

It is the only grid station of the Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA) in Joharabad division which is still running at 66kV despite addition of a number of villages to the power grid.

The population of the area has also increased significantly over the years, hiking the load on the grid station. Consequently, the estimated 250,000 people residing in Noorpur Thal are facing difficulties due to low voltage.

When the heat is at its peak in the summer, neither a fan nor a water motor runs on the available 80 to 90 volts of electricity. Many businesses come to a standstill due to the absence of required voltage in the area.

One of the main reasons behind the low voltage is that 25km of wires supplying power to Noorpur Thal have not been replaced since the establishment of the grid. The mainline has become so dilapidated that the wires fall to the ground with in light wind.

Five feeders were installed at Adhi Kot Grid Station at the time of its establishment. The total length of 11kV wires fitted to supply power to the transformers from all the feeders is 772km; while the length of wires providing connection to people is 525km and 35,000 meters have been installed for the connections to consumers.

In this regard, MNA Malik Ahsanullah Tewana said all paperwork has been completed to provide relief to the local people suffering the woes of low voltage by installing a new feeder at Peelo Wains along with upgrading the grid station.

WAPDA Sub Division Officer of Noorpur Malik Ghulam Qadir Atra said a proposal had been submitted to the head office for the purpose. However, he could not confirm when work would begin to fix the failing grid station.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 21^st, 2020.