Amreli, DeshGujarat: Gujarat Chief Minister today dedicated electricity connectivity to Shiyal Bet island located near Jafrabad in Amreli district. For the first time Shiyal Bet had power connectivity today benefiting 840 families.

Power minister Saurabh Patel called this a historical day for Shiyal Bet. He said Shiyal Bet consumers are given electricity for just Rs 1.50 for first 30 units. With ever connection two LED bulbs are given for free.

MLA Hirabhai Solanki said four cables each having length of 6.63 km have been laid to give power to this island. Thus the total length of marine cable is 26.52 km. For safety and stability of this cable, skillful undersea workers have done the laying task which was possible only on specific day due to rough sea. To lay this marine cable specialized material such as RCC shield, sinkers, HDPE pipe, clamping and other stuff was used.

As the total project is wort Rs 17.47 crore, each of 841 housing unit of Shiyal Bet has been provided power by government at a cost of Rs 2.18 lakh. In normal case this cost comes to Rs 2 to 4,000 only.

600 connections are given to Shiyalbet already for free.

With power connectivity, the Chief Minister also dedicated a newly constructed government secondary school and sub health center.

She later also inaugurated a girls hostel and college in Jafrabad taluka as part of state government mission to ensure at least one college in each taluka of Gujarat.

Chief Minister tweets:

-Fulfilling promise of at least one college in every taluka of Gujarat, the Chief Minister dedicated Arts and Commerce college at Jafrabad taluka in Amreli. She also dedicated a girls hostel here.

-Consider myself privileged to have become the first Chief Minister of Gujarat to visit island village of Shiyal bet in Amreli district.

-1.4 km away from Pipavav Port, electricity has been supplied to 603 families through four 100 KV substations and 6.4 km long undersea cable. Also distributed Ujala LED bulbs to the residents.

-Besides providing electricity, Shiyal bet will now get quality education and healthcare through secondary school and health sub centre dedicated today.

Project background

Shiyal Bet island located off Pipavav coast in Amreli district of Gujarat was the only place in Gujarat without electricity. Surrounded by sea in all direction, Shiyal Bet has finally got the electricity connectivity.

Shiyal bet has over 6,000 population, of which 90% are fishermen and 10% do some farming. People on bet so far survived with kerosene lamps, solar panels to operate lights and diesel generators to operate other equipment.

When the state government decided to connect this island with power, one option given to villagers was solar power run island, but villagers were not ready for that option. They said they are into fishing, and there’s good catch of fishes available in that area. They said they want to install cold storage, and therefore they want regular power and not solar power.

The state government arm Pashchim Gujarat Vij Company Limited (PGVCL) had awarded the tender for laying the 6-km long underwater cable to supply electricity to Shiyal Bet island on turnkey basis. Rs. 18 crore task involved laying the cables in high density polyethylene pipes on seabed, installation of transformers, transmission and feeder lines and 500-2000 power connections etc. Due to rough sea condition, the cable laying task continued with frequent intervals.

In the past on two occasions, the connectivity project failed to kick off even after tendering process due to objections by Pipavav Port which is located at 1.5 km distance from Shiyal bet. The government later decided to lay cable from Chanch island of Bhavnagar district which is located 6 km away from Shiyal to avoid any issue with shipping traffic at Pipavav Port. The shortest route from mainland to Shiyal bet was 1.5 km from Pipavav port side, but that option was skipped, because ships that anchor at port site could damage the undersea cable. Take an example of Okha-Bet Dwarka sea cable which attracts faults due to ships that anchor at Okha port. The other route for Shiyal Bet undersea cable project selected by PGVCL is longer but relatively safer.

The initial project estimates were:
Residential connections: 1200
Commercial connections: 35
LT MD connections: 11
Length of 11 KV submarine cable(single core) 6 km
Total cables: 4 number of single core sub marine cables
Total length of cable: 24 km
:HT line 13 km at Chanch Bandar side from 66 kv
Vanger S/S and 1.7 km at Shiyalbet.
LT line 9 km.
4 number of 100 KVA distribution transformers
Project cost(approximately): Rs. 17.51 crore

Twice bigger than Bet Dwarka undersea cabling project

– DeshGujarat

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