Discom seeks land to set up power substations

The Dakshin Haryana Bijli Vitran Nigam (DHBVN) has demanded a parcel of 500 square yard land in each residential society in the developing sectors — 58 to 115 — to set up electricity substations of 33 kva. The move comes as an attempt to end power crisis in the area permanently. The area, at present, has a total population of 2 lakh.

On Wednesday, officials of the department of town and country planning (TCP) and the DHBVN, electricity distribution agency, held a meeting to discuss the issue. At the meeting, DTCP director K M Pandurang directed senior town planner (STP), Gurugram, Sudhir Chauhan, to hold a meeting with developers and expedite the process of acquiring land.

“Every residential society has to offer land for a 33 kva electricity substation to ensure permanent and uninterrupted electricity. Or, two and more residential societies can also apply jointly for a 33kva substation. This is a mandatory procedure without which permanent electricity connections cannot be given to them,” said a DHBVN official who was present at the meeting. Chauhan, who was also present at the meeting, said, “We will certainly look into it as per directions of the DG-TCP.”

There are more than 250 residential societies along the southern and northern peripheral roads – and most of them rely on diesel generators or only have temporary power connections.

“While more than 40 per cent of the flats are occupied in these societies, very few or less than five per cent developers have obtained the DHBVN connections under this procedure notified two years ago. Moreover, maximum builders are not coming forward, and, as a result, diesel generators are the main source of electricity in those societies. Or, some developers have taken commercial connections from DHBVN, which is temporary,” said the DHBVN official.

DHBVN allots electricity connections to builders initially for construction purposes. Many builders extend the electricity provided to them to residents — who they offer flats to — temporarily at commercial rates.

Sanjiv Chopra, chief engineer, DHBVN, said, “We need to provide permanent electricity connections to all residential societies in the new sectors. It will be possible only after setting up 33kva substations in each of the societies. We cannot force developers to allot us 500 square yard-lands and apply for electricity connection. We brought this issue to Pandurang’s notice.”

However, many developers are not willing to offer 500 square yard-land to the DHBVN for the 33kva substation in their societies. They have termed the policy “wrong”.

“This is a new policy and we did not find it suitable. We applied for licence way back in 2010-11 with the DG-TCP and then there was no such condition at all. We have paid electricity infrastructure charges to the department (DG-TCP). Now we are asked to offer 500 square yard-land for 33kva substations. We have built our society and we do not have land available,” said a senior executive of Raheja Developers wishing anonymity. Raheja Developers have five residential projects on the northern peripheral road.