DEPARTMENT OF ELECTRICITY
ELECTRICITY
IN LAKSHADWEEP The
electrification of Lakshadweep islands was first taken up during the Second Five
Year Plan period and Rs.1 lakh was provided for the said purpose.
Minicoy was the first island to be electrified on 15.09.1962 by
installing two Diesel Generating Sets for a total capacity of 91 KW.
Kavaratti was the second island to be electrified in 1964; remaining
islands were electrified subsequently and all the inhabited islands including
Bangaram were electrified by the end of Sixth Five-Year Plan.
The power is supplied in Lakshadweep through diesel generating sets.
The diesel generating sets are of various capacities ranging from 24 to
400 KW. The power generating
systems in all the Islands are stand-alone systems. There is no inter island
connection in the supply grid.
Initially
the power supply was limited to six hours which continued till 1982-83.
However, in 1983 round the clock power supply was started in all the
Islands. Union Territory of Lakshadweep has achieved 100% electrification; all
houses have been electrified and connection is available on demand. Self meter
reading is a success from 1988. The generation, transmission and distribution of
electricity in Lakshadweep are managed by Lakshadweep Electricity Department,
with headquarters at Kavaratti and is headed by an Executive Engineer.
Since
electricity is generated through diesel generators in all the Islands, the fuel
is transported in barrels from Calicut in Kerala to the individual Islands and
stored there. Lakshadweep
Electricity Department is lifting about 66 lakh litres of HSD oil per annum from
Indian Oil Corporation Depot at Calicut, where oil is loaded into 200 ltrs.
barrels and the barrels are then transported by barges, owned by Lakshadweep
Administration, to the off- shore of the reef.
The barrels are again unloaded on barge for transportation to the jetties
at the islands. On land they are
transported by small trucks from Jetty to the island stockyard and stored there.
The whole process of transportation is tedious, cumbersome and costly. Proposal for setting up Oil Storage Tanks in the islands is
pending for last several years with the Ministry of Petroleum and
Natural Gas. With
great persuasion, in March, 2001 one team headed by Shri Mohit Sinha, Deputy
Secretary, Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas along with officers from Indian
Oil Corporation Ltd. visited and inspected the sites. They have prepared the
estimates costing Rs. 4.39 Crores
for Kavaratti and Rs. 4.27 Crores for Minicoy for setting up Oil Storage
installations in the above two islands and submitted to the Ministry.
Setting up of storage facilities in the islands may be done by Indian Oil
Corporation Ltd., as done elsewhere in the country; otherwise the
Administration has to locate required amount for the above purposes. The cost per kWh generation comes to Rs. 7.32; however,
it is provided to the consumers at the subsidised rate of Rs.4/- (average) per
kWh. Electricity tariff was last
revised in
April 2000.
There are 14,196
domestic, 233
industrial connection and
2,729 commercial consumers in the Islands. Besides, 3736 Street Lights also
maintained by the Department.
The
distribution of electricity in Union Territory of Lakshadweep is through 11 kV
and 415 volts systems. The total
installed capacity of all islands put together is 9922 KW; in 2000 - 01
generation was 196.07 lakh units. Transmission
and Distribution loss was a major problem before Electricity Department of Union
Territory of Lakshadweep. However
due to efforts made over the last few years the transmission and distribution
loss has now been reduced to 10.18% which is the lowest in India; this has been
made possible by replacing over head lines with under ground cable, adoption of
electronic energy meters and modernisation
of power systems. It is expected that the T & D loss will be brought down
to 8% by the end of the ninth five-year plan.
The
Ninth five-year Plan (1997-2002) was formulated on the basis of the load
projections made by 15th Power Survey conducted by the Ministry of
Power. An amount of Rs. 1500.65 lakhs was earmarked for Ninth Plan for the Power
Sector out of which an amount of Rs.961.355 lakhs have already been spent up to
2000-2001. An amount of Rs. 272.76 lakhs is earmarked for the current financial
year. The major thrust given in the Ninth Plan was for qualitative improvement
of the power supply and augmentation of capacity to meet the increasing demand
of electricity which is increasing 9% per annum.
During ninth plan, capacity of 3500 kW has been created so far besides undertaking under ground cabling of 105.156 Kms, upgrading the generators and distribution network.
Lakshadweep
is the land of sun and seas. The sun is available throughout the year save for a couple of
months during monsoon. Solar
Photovoltaic power is engineering a quite revolution in the islands. So far 4
numbers of SPV Power plants have been installed in 4 islands generating 185 kW
of energy excluding one 100 kW SPV Power Plant under installation at Minicoy.
The Union Territory Administration has taken an ambitious project to meet 20% of
its demand (1MW) through solar energy. In order to achieve the goal, work orders
to set up SPV Power Plants at 7 islands having capacity of 700 kW which costs
about Rs. 18.41 crores have since been issued to Bharat Heavy Electricals,
Bangalore. The Engineers from BHEL
along with Mr. Len Wright, Advanced Energy Systems, Australia has completed site
survey at all the islands. Progress of implementation of the project has been
reviewed in the meeting held in the Ministry of Non Conventional Energy Sources
under the chairman ship of the Adviser ( Power Group) in the Ministry which Shri
T.M. Balakrishnan, Secretary (Power), U.T., Executive Engineer (Ele) and
officers of BHEL, Bangalore were present. Next
meeting is proposed to be held in October/ November at Kavaratti. In the review
meeting it was decided that the plants at Kavaratti, Kadmat, Agatti and Andrott
will be commissioned by December, 2001 and the plants at Kalpeni, Chetlat and
Amini are commissioned by May, 2001. The SPV modules have already received at
Kavaratti and Kadmat. P.W.D has to
complete the civil work on top priority basis. Out of Rs. 18.41 crores, Ministry
of Non Conventional Energy Source will finance Rs. 12.27 crores. Cost of
generation from the SPV Power Plant without considering
the grant from the
It is also proposed to utilise solar energy for drying up copra and fish,
the only produce from the islands, through installing Solar Dryers. Drying
process through Solar Dryers will be hygienic and fast and will fetch
remunerative prices for the farmers.
Thermal energy from the sun is also being put to use in the islands.
Supply of drinking water is the second biggest problem faced by the
islanders. Waste Heat Recovery
Fresh Water
Generator of
10 Cub. Meter
capacity which
runs on
heat produced by the diesel generators installed at
Kavaratti, on experimental basis, meet a portion of
water needs. 100 SPV
powered microbial water treatment plants have been installed in the islands
which have reduced the incidence of water borne diseases like dysentery, cholera
etc. considerably.
About 6500 Solar Lanterns are already in use
and are in great demand for use in sea-going vessels.
Three more such units are in the pipe line and will be installed at Andrott (200 KW), Kalpeni (100 KW) and Amini (200 KW) after watching the performance of the project now under installation. Production cost of power from the gasifier will be around Rs. 2.50 per unit as against Rs. 7.32 for diesel power. The ashes from the gasifier, rich in potash can be utilised as fertilizer for the coconut palms.
1.
Generation, transmission and distribution of electricity in all islands
in the Union Territory
of Lakshadweep.
2.
Collection of revenue from the consumers.
3.
Maintenance of Proforma Accounts of the Department.
4.
Internal electrification of Govt. buildings for and on behalf of L.P.W.D.
5.
Implementation of Non Conventional Energy Sources Projects in the Union
Territory of Lakshadweep.
6.
Implementation of Integrated
Rural Energy
Programme in
the Union Territory of
Lakshadweep.
The Ministry of Home Affairs in their O.M. F.No.4/9/54/AC-II dated
05.08.1999 conveyed their approval for taking up the schemes for electrification
of Lakshadweep Islands by taking into consideration the strategic importance and
economic backwardness of the remote area notwithstanding the fact that the
schemes are not likely to be remunerative especially under the existing system
of power generation with diesel generators.
The electrification of all the 11 inhabited islands have been completed
by the end of December, 1982 as shown below:
Name of Island
Date of electrification
Minicoy
15.09.1962.
Kavaratti
24.01.1964.
Amini
06.05.1966.
Andrott
06.08.1966.
Kalpeni
06.07.1968.
Agatti
28.03.1969.
Kadmat
31.03.1970.
Kiltan
30.03.1971.
Chetlat
20.04.1974.
Bangaram
14.03.1974.
Bitra
08.12.1982.
The Electricity Department was declared as a Commercial Department from 1st April, 1961. The Division has to render the monthly account which is maintained on CPWD System of accounting and Proforma Accounts showing the working results of each year annually which is to be audited and certified by the Accountant General of Kerala.
Initially, power supply was provided for a limited period of 6 to 12
hours till 1982/83 in all the islands except Kavaratti where 24 hours power
supply was provided from 1964 onwards itself.
Round the clock power supply was provided in all the islands during
1982-83, except Bitra where 12 hours power supply only was provided.
In Bitra 24 hours power supply was provided with effect from December,
1988.
ORGANISATIONAL SET UP:-
Initially, Electricity Department was functioning as a part of
Lakshadweep Public Works Department. It
was in December, 1972 that an officer from Central Water and Power Commission
was deputed to fill the post of Assistant Executive Engineer.
Though the Head quarter office of the Electricity Department was at
Kavaratti, it was designated as Electrical Division, Kavaratti having the status
of an independent Sub division, which was headed by an Assistant Executive
Engineer. The Headquarters of Electricity Department was shifted to Kochi in
February 1973 and was re-shifted to Kavaratti in May 1981 and since then the
Department is functioning at Kavaratti. The Department is now functioning under
an Executive Engineer at Kavaratti since June 1997.
Electricity Tariff:
Electricity Tariff adopted by the Department from time to time is furnished below:
1.10.96 1.10.97 01.05.1999
to
to
to
1962-93
1993-96 31.9.97 30.4.99
31.03.2000
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Domestic (0-50 unit) 60 Paise 75 Paise 75 Paise 100 paise 125 paise
(0-200 Unit) 60
"
75 " 100
"
150 "
200 "
(> 200 Units) 60
"
75 " 150
"
200 "
250 "
Commercial
60 "
120 "
150 " 250
"
300 "
Industrial
40
"
80 "
100 " 150
"
200 "
Public
Lighting 60
" 120
"
150 "
250 " 300
"
The Tariff has been revised with effect from 1.04.2000 as given below:
Domestic
(0-50 units)
- 150 paise per unit
(0-100 Unit)
- 250 paise per unit
(0-
200 Units)
- 350 paise per unit
( 200 and above)
- 400 paise per unit
Commercial
- 650 paise per unit
Industrial
- 450 paise per unit
Street lighting
-
650 paise per unit
The revenue of Rs. 5.6 Crores earned in 2000-01 represents only 49.53% (Appx.) of the expenditure.
Computerisation of the Department: L.T.
billing has been computerised since
1992. Consumer himself read the
meter and pay the charges monthly. Pay Bills and
Store Accounting has also been computerised. With the financial
assistance of Ministry of Non Conventional Energy Sources, the Department has
installed a V – SAT at Headquarter for quick communication with Ministry and
other places. It is proposed to install Vedio Conferencing System in the
Department for which financial assistance
is assured by the Ministry.
1.
Reduction of T & D losses to the level of 8 %.
2.
Addition of 10,000 KVA step up transformation
capacity and 10,167 KVA step down transformation capacity.
3.
Enhancement of efficiency and productivity by way of computerisation of
the activities of the Department.
4.
Construction of 18 Km high tension 11 KV UG lines and conversion of
existing over head lines into under ground.
5.
Providing safety measures to contain environmental pollution/
de-gradation such as providing de-carbonising scrubbers to DG sets, acoustic
control system to power control rooms, construction of cement platform to store
HSD oil barrels, constructions of compound wall etc.
6.
Providing of service connection to following different category:-
a)
Domestic / Commercial
2,100 Nos.
b)
Industrial
298 Nos.
c)
Street Light
750 Nos.
7.
Supplement diesel generation with solar and wind generations by
installing SPV Power plants and wind electric generators.
8.
Skill upgradation of man power i.e. human resource development by
imparting short term training to the technical staff of the Department.
9.
Strengthening of administrative set up by upgrading the existing posts,
creation of new posts etc. to meet the additional requirement envisaged in the 9th
plan.
The following
recommendations made by the NEERI (National Environmental Engineering Research
Institute) as per the study financed by the Department are also being undertaken
by the Department.
1.
Installation of wet
scrubbers to reduce air pollution .
2.
Installation of acoustic control of each individual generator or whole
building using acoustic plaster and acoustic impedance material to reduce noise pollution.
3.
Construction of a compound
wall around the Power House at a height of 3 mtr. to act as barrier to contain
noise pollution.
4. Concretisation of spillage area for HSD oil.
An amount of Rs. 272.60 lakhs has been earmarked for 2001-02 for
undertaking the following major work.
1.
Procurement and installation of 4 Nos. new Diesel Generating sets one
each at Kiltan, Chetlat, Bitra and Bangaram
2.
Procurement and installation of 11 Nos. step down transformers
3.
Providing 420 Nos domestic and 38 Nos. industrial connections
4.
Installation of 155 new street lights
5.
Construction/ modification of
existing power
house buildings
and office/ store buildings
Under Non Conventional Energy Sector the following works are to be undertaken during 2001-02 for which an amount of Rs.399.00 Lakhs are provided.
1.
Installation and commissioning 7 Nos 100 KWp Grid Interactive SPV Power
Plant and augmentation of existing SPV Power Plant at Bangaram and Bitra to 50
KWp.
2.
Distribution of Energy Saving Devices such as Solar Lantern.
3.
Setting up of Wind Electric
Generators
4.
Energy Conservation measures
5.
Installation of Biomass gasifiers
The Department has already deputed almost all the staff of the distribution side to a training course of 3 weeks to the National Power Training Institute, Neyveli during the year 1998-99 & 1999-2000. The Department has also deputed one batch of Mechanics to the premises of Engine Manufacturers to a training course on DG sets. Training on Solar Photo Voltaic Power system also conducted at Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited premises.
ENERGY CONSERVATION:-
Taking into consideration the high generation cost of electricity and the
impact on environment the Department has given utmost importance to Energy
Conservation. Besides introduction of Compact Fluorescent Lamps, the usage of
GLS Lamps in Govt. Sector has been banned. The following activities are being
implemented with the assistance and cooperation of Energy Management Centre,
Govt. of Kerala, Trivandrum.
1.
Awareness programmes for reducing consumption of electrical energy
.
2.
Installation of microprocessor controller device to save energy by
automatic judicious switch on and off of Street Lights.
3.
Installation of Intelligent control unit for window type unit air
conditioners
4. Use of solar energy for neat and clean processing of fish and copra.
5. Introduction
of Energy Clinic Programme of
the Energy Management Centre
Kerala in the households of the
islands.
6. Formation
of School Energy Conservation Clubs in schools of all islands.
7. Distribution of Illustrated pamphlets on energy conservation in Malayalam among locals and the employees of the Administration
8.
Imparting training on
energy management for Assistant
Engineers and
Junior Engineers in the Department
9.
Setting up of energy
parks in the islands
Waste
Heat Recovery Fresh Water plant for generating fresh water from seawater.
One Waste Heat Recovery Fresh Water Generator of 10,000 litres installed
at Kavaratti Power House is mainly to achieve optimum usage of HSD oil and to
solve drinking water problem to some extent in the island. The plant converts
sea water in to potable water. There is a proposal to use the exhaust gas of the
engines to desalinate the seawater also.
Constraints:
I.
Transportation and storage of HSD oil: About
66 lakhs litres of HSD oil is required annually for providing uninterrupted
power supply in the islands. It is
being transported from Beypore in 200 litre Barrels in Barges.
HSD oil before it reaches in the PowerHouse in the islands, has to
surmount the following handling procedure:
1)
Filling in 200
Ltrs. Barrels from IOC Trucks and
stacking filled barrels in open yard at Mainland.
2)
Loading of barrels into lorries and transporting them to wharf.
3) Loading in the Country Craft at Wharf and transporting them to
main vessel.
4)
Lifting from country craft and loading into the main vessels and
transporting them to islands.
5)
Unloading from main vessel at Island on to the dumb barge in the outer
sea.
6)
Unloading from the dumb
barge at sea shore
7)
Transportation from seashore
to concerned open yard in the islands and stacking there.
8)
Transportation of barrels from open yard to Power House
Due to the above multi point handling and hazardous nature of transportation, the barrels some time reach the islands in leaking condition. As there is no storage facility available in the islands it has to be stored in the barrels itself.
Modernisation
of Power System: - In the present system
all the Diesel Generating sets in the Power House are connected to a common bus
without any bus isolation facility and synchronized and from there stepped up
using step up transformers and is being fed to the grid through hand operated
gang switches. The system requires modification for more reliability,
dependability, viability and efficiency in operation. Hon’ble Minister of
State for Power who visited Kavaratti on 11th & 12th
April, 2001 has suggested to formulate a project report for upgradation,
strengthening, renovation and modernisation of DG sets and distribution system
in all the islands for funding from the Accelerated Power Development Fund of
Ministry. The Department is collecting the details from the Ministry for
formulating the Project Report. However, it is proposed to incorporate the
following in the proposed draft Tenth Five Year Plan to take up under Power
Sector:
1)
All generators may be synchronized to a common bus with bus isolation
facility and all may be connected using relays and with facilities for
monitoring the loading.
2)
A remote control console may be provided in a separate control room with
control desk and mimic screen from where the characteristics and parameters of
all generators and out going feeders can be monitored and controlled. Each
generator can be switched on only according to the load requirement and can be
utilised for maximum capacity because of which there would be considerable
reduction in fuel and maintenance cost.
3)
VCBs should control the outgoing individual loads with TOD meters and
protective relays so that faulty feeders will be switched off automatically and
other feeders remain intact and healthy. By adding the new control console,
computer interfacing can be provided with which monitoring can be done very
effectively and dependency on manpower can be reduced.
4). Sound proofing system with which sound pollution can be eliminated outside the generator room may be incorporated.
5)
A scientific method may be evolved for the storage and handling of HSD
and lubricating oil in the system. For carrying out the above work properly for
optimum utility detailed system study to be conducted and detailed engineering
drawing along with schedule have to be prepared. A suitable agency for the above
said modernisation work is to be located/ identified.
6)
No additional D.G. Set is proposed
7) Entire
requirement of power is proposed to be met from Non Conventional Source of
Energy by installing SPV Power Plants, Wind Electric Generators, Biomass
gasifiers, Fuel Cells, Ocean Energy etc.
8)
Setting up a Renewable Energy Park at Kavaratti.
9) Replacement
of existing mechanical conventional type energy meters with electronic energy
meters