Varanasi Nagar Nigam indulges in power extravagance

VARANASI: Illuminated streetlights, including high mast and sodium vapour lamps, erected along posh Kabir Nagar and Ravindrapuri colonies in broad daylight on Friday indicated sheer wastage of power and also put a question mark over efforts to save it. The laxity of Varanasi Nagar Nigam (which maintains these streetlights) was evident. It also made a mockery of recent decision of closing shopping malls (which was later cancelled by the state government) in a bid to save power. When TOI visited various localities in the city to take stock of ground reality of streetlights and the measures to curb power wastage, it came to light that extravagant use and wastage of power were rampant. Streetlights were switched on in a number of localities like Veerdopur, Nirala Nagar (Mahmoorganj), Ravindrapuri, Brahmanand Nagar and Saket Nagar in the overcast morning until the scheduled rostering in these localities. VNN executive engineer (lights) Kailash Singh said efforts are being made to cut down extravagant use of streetlights and initiatives like using energy-efficient CFLs are also on the cards. The streetlights are operated manually and it could be a case of human error, he clarified. VNN had already witnessed increase of power points from 39,010 in 2006 to over 55,000 in 2011. Similarly, power consumption has been recorded at 5,587 kilowatt (kw) per hour from the earlier 2,927 kw per hour (nearly double) in the last five years. In terms of power wastage calculated for every additional hour in the day, the figures come to whopping 2,500 kw per hour per day, 75,000 kw per month and 9,00,000 kw per year. The civic body had a pending power bill of Rs 16.12 crore, attracting the ire of Poorvanchal Vidyut Vitaran Nigam Ltd (PVVNL). PVVNL managing director A P Mishra said that in the new circular issued to junior engineers, instructions have been given to keep vigil on power wastage in the city. “We are examining the situation and soon a survey would be conducted to know the points where street wire is missing in the city. The street wire runs continuously in a circuit and is attached to common switch which is manually operated. If the operating employees are vigilant, the wastage of power could not be allowed,” he added.VNN is also grappling with the essential works like maintenance and repair of damaged lights. As per reports of the office, a long stretch of residential localities in the city are poorly lit, as around 30 per cent of the streetlights are damaged. For overall management of streetlights, there are around 100 staffers, out of which 60 are permanent while remaining are either hired on daily basis or working on contractual basis. As many as eight linemen are hired on daily basis while remaining employees are hired on contract.