Nashik: The Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company Limited (MSEDCL), Nashik zone has installed high voltage distribution system (HVDS) in Ahmednagar and Nashik districts and started supplying power to agriculture consumers.The first connections were given to Vithabai Thakre of Ganur village in Chandwad taluka and Ravindra Ukande of Mith Pimpri village in Ahmednagar taluka.Thakre had paid for the connection in 2010, while Ukande had paid for the connection in October 2011.The HVDS which will give farmers quality power supply without interruptions, though the protocol of load shedding will be followed. While 11,000 farmers in Nashik district will benefit from the scheme which will cost Rs 266 crore, in Ahmednagar district, about 8,700 farmers will benefit at a cost of Rs 172 crore. The project is in various phases of completion.According to the MSEDCL, the HVDS scheme is supplying power from high voltage system which is stepped down to 440 volts while distributing for agriculture.“We have started the system to prevent leakage and also to ensure that agriculture consumers get good quality power, free from unnecessary interruptions resulting out of overloading of transformers,” said Pravin Daroli, superintendent engineer, Nashik.In case of power supply to agriculture, the MSEDCL faces large scale power theft, while farmers face break down of transformers often.“Since more number of farmers than allowed hook on to the low tension line the safety fuse of the transformer blows off. But people put higher capacity fuse which ultimately takes toll of the transformer. Once the transformer blows off, it takes 3 to 10 days for replacement,” a senior MSEDCL official said.

Stay updated with all the Latest Nashik headlines here. For more exclusive & live news updates from all around India, stay connected with NYOOOZ.