Executive Engineer highlights workshop’s strategic role, collaborative efforts for resilient electrical network

Pampore: In an exemplary display of efficiency, the Central Workshop Division Pampore of Kashmir Power Distribution Corporation Limited (KPDCL) successfully refurbished thousands of damaged transformers, addressing low demand in the region.
This year alone, 2500 damaged transformers have been repaired, building on the remarkable achievement of repairing 4300 transformers in the previous fiscal year, officials told Kashmir Reader.
The Central Workshop Division Pampore, in south Kashmir’s Pulwama district, showcases its commitment to maintaining and enhancing the electrical infrastructure in the Kashmir Division.
The Electric Central Workshop Division Pampore is the largest workshop in the Kashmir division.
Speaking to Kashmir Reader, Executive Engineer Azhar Hamid Mattu of Kashmir Central Workshop Division Pampore said, “Our workshop is the Central Workshop Division in Kashmir, and there are two such workshops in the J&K Union Territory—one in Jammu and the other in the Kashmir Valley. This workshop caters to our maintenance divisions, totalling 19 divisions.”
He added, “In our valley when transformers are damaged, attempts are made to utilize local workshops within each division. These local workshops initially inspect the transformers, and if the damage is minor, they undertake minor repairs on-site. In case the damage exceeds their capability and qualifies as major damage that they cannot repair locally, the transformers are then sent to our workshop.”
The Executive Engineer said the transformers arrive at their facility where they have a dedicated infrastructure. “They undergo a thorough inspection, and once that is completed, we commence our work by opening and dismantling the transformers. Subsequently, we assess the repair process, which involves various stages. After completing the repairs, we conduct testing and other necessary procedures before returning the transformer to its respective division,” he said.
As of the current date, we have received 2500 damaged transformers from different divisions of Kashmir Power Distribution Corporation Limited (KPDCL) for repair in this financial year starting from April 1, 2023, Mattu said, adding, “Our endeavour is to minimize any delay, and upon receiving a transformer, we promptly send out its replacement. This ensures that our consumers do not face any inconvenience. There are specific instructions from our higher authorities, including Lieutenant Governor (LG) Sahab, that emphasize the need for repairs to be completed within a minimum duration.”
We have repaired approximately 2500 transformers from here until today’s date, and in the last year, our Central Workshop Division in Pampore successfully repaired 4300 transformers, he added.
The Executive Engineer explained that not all undergo 100 percent repair in this workshop due to their limited capacity. “Therefore, we have an annual contract with various Small Scale Industry (SSI) units. We are registered with 23 SSI units. To manage our workload, we seek assistance from other SSI units. We issue transformers to them for repairs, and after the repairs are completed, they return them to us. We then reissue these transformers to the divisions from where they originally came in a damaged state. This is the process within our workshop,” he said.
He added that the number of damaged transformers exceeds the workshop’s capacity for repairs. “To address emergencies, we keep a stock of new buffer transformers available here. Following the directives of the chief engineer, we issue these buffer transformers immediately in case of emergencies, ensuring that affected consumers don’t have to wait. This proactive approach aids in providing timely assistance,” he said.

BILAL HABIB