Talking to newsmen here at the Load Despatch Centre here on Thursday, Guardian Minister for Nagpur Nitin Gadkari and the technical member of the MSEB, S P Deo, said that the board would able to restore normal electricity supply from June 4 positively. Gadkari and Deo inspected the site and reviewed the progress of repairing works of damaged transformers.

Two transformers of 250 MVA each were completely destroyed in a major fire that broke out in the centre on May 2. The third transformer of same capacity was partially damaged, cutting off power supply to the city and giving a crippling blow to the municipal water supply system. The centre is responsible for power supply to Nagpur city and district.

The MSEBlater restored the electricity supply to the city through alternative arrangements at Kanhan and Pench stations. However, the city was facing frequent load-shedding since the damage of the transformers.

Gadkari and Deo claimed that repairing of one transformer would enable it to restore normal power supply in the city. The remaining two transformers would be installed subsequently.

The city was badly affected due to the partial power supply. The worst affected sector is the industry. The Industries' Association even demanded the resignation of Deputy Chief Minister Gopinath Munde who also holds the Energy portfolio.

Deo informed that the Bharat Heavy Electrical Limited (BHEL) personnel were working for over 15 hours every day for restoration of one transformer. A team of BHEL personnel, including three engineers and four skilled technicians, were working day and night to restore the unit, he added.

The MSEB has to spend over Rs 8 core for installation of new transformers and repairing of damagedtransformers. Deo, however, said that the book value of the damaged transformers was only Rs 40 lakhs as those were installed long back.

The MSEB will now install only two transformers at the site and the third transformer will be installed at Kalmeshwar as a safety measure.

Answering another question, Deo said that the technical director of the board, N Sainath, was probing the entire episode and necessary measures and actions would be initiated after receiving the report. The MSEB had engaged Sainath for the probe immediately after the fire. The report is expected within next week, Deo further informed.