Kolkata: All power distribution boxes in locations that are susceptible to waterlogging will be made smart to send automatic warnings when the water level rises outside the safe sign so that they can be turned off to prevent the incidence of electric shock.
“The closeness sensor is being installed in a distribution box located in the environment that will be flooded.
When the water level rises, it will trigger a warning to the customer relationship management system (CRM) and control room LT.
The CRM system will send SMS to consumers served by the distribution box To notify them that the supply will be turned off for their safety.
And the warning to the control room will allow the engineers to ask the cellular team to turn off the supply in minutes, “explained the Managing Director (Distribution) Debasish Banerjee.
About 150 distribution boxes have been identified in vulnerable areas.
Of these, the sensor has been installed in more than 50 boxes while the rest will be equipped with a sensor at the end of this year.
Among the locations where sensors have been installed including Muktaram Babu Street, Jalan Amherst, Lansdowne Road and Kidderpore.
Among other areas where boxes will be understood including Ekberpore, Mominpore, Alimuddin Street, College Street and Park Circus.
A few years ago, utilities had surveyed distribution boxes during the rainy season and raised the heights of some of them to prevent them from getting squeezed.
However, the intensity of rain has increased and there is an Instance of Cloud Burst, which, coupled with tide, has pushed higher water levels this year.
Until now, Cesc depends on complaints from consumers or warnings from the police or government to act when the water level increases during the rain falls.
However, this system is not too easy because some bylane or alleys can be ignored, especially during latent shower.
“The sensor will re-issue a warning when the water level recedes so that the power can be activated,” said Vice President Cesc (Distribution LT) Avijit Ghosh.
There are also some examples of electrocution in the city.
Although not all of them are related to Cesc service points, officials at the utility say they will try to ensure that no one is harmed.