JBVNL looks to draw power from Dumka grid for supply in Dhanbad

Dhanbad: The state-owned power distribution company, Jharkhand Bijli Vitran Nigam Limited, has decided to depend less on the Damodar Valley Corporation (DVC) for supply to the coal town of Dhanbad and other districts by drawing more from the Dumka grid.
Officials said work for connecting one more electrical circuit to the Dumka grid is on and once complete, it will ensure power supply to PMCH-based sub-station of Dhanbad apart from Bhuda and Manaitand areas.
Talking to TOI, JBVNL general manager (Dhanbad supply area) Paritosh Kumar said, “At present, four circuits of Dhanbad are connected to the Kandra substation but with one more being integrated, the number of grids will increase. All five of them will draw power from the Dumka grid which in turn is linked to the national grid.”
He added, “At present, we are receiving 45MW from Dumka grid and expecting to draw around 55-60 MW after the integration.”
The coal town requires around 270MW, most of which is drawn from the DVC. Six other districts like Giridih, Bokaro, Koderma, Hazaribagh, Ranchi and East Singhbhum are also drawing power from DVC but after the setting up of a new substation at Kandra by the Jharkhand Urja Sancharan Nigam Limited last year, JBVNL had already decreased its dependence on DVC.
Industries and Commerce Association of Dhanbad (ICAD) president B N Singh said, “Though we welcome the JBVNL initiative, we demand immediate steps to improve the supply in areas like Baliapur where the hard coke industries are getting power supply for only 5-6 hours daily. This causes difficulties for several industries and stone crushers. We have written a letter in this regard to the JBVNL general manager on Tuesday.”
Jharkhand Rajya Bijli Kamgar Union general secretary Ramkrishna Singh said, “The purpose of integrating the new circuits to Kandra power substation will be served only when people get relief from the current power crisis.”