THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE,
MINISTRY OF COMMERCE & INDUSTRY AND MINISTER OF STATE
IN THE MINISTRY OF POWER
( SHRI JAIRAM RAMESH )
(a) to (f) : There had been incidents of transmission line trippings in
Northern Region, due to heavy fog & pollution during the winter season.
The cleaning of insulators with the help of Helicopter was
proposed to be undertaken by Power Grid Corporation of India Limited
(PGIL) on 19 critical lines. While cleaning of insulators in four (4)
transmission lines has been completed, the cleaning in the remaining lines
is scheduled to be completed upto end of February, 2009. The details are
given at Annex.
It is informed by Power Grid Corporation that that an MOU
has been signed with Pawan Hans Helicopters Limited on 22nd October,
2008. As per the Agreement, Pawan Hans has provided its one Bell
Helicopter to PGCIL along with hot line washing equipment and crew
taken from M/s. Heliwing International Limited, New Zealand for spray
washing of insulators of transmission lines of PGCIL for a period of 5
months at an approx. total cost of Rs.7.50 crores.
The main cause for the tripping of the power transmission
lines during winter season in Northern Region are high levels of
atmospheric pollution and humidity during the night hours during this
season and condensation of moisture on the polluted insulators. The
cleaning / washing of insulators under hot line condition using helicopter
would reduce the fog related tripping of the transmission lines particularly
in areas where approach of truck mounted washers / telescopic boom
washers is not feasible or where due to high pollution and its faster
accumulation, the speed of operation so demands.
