Shillong, Mar 21: As many as 316 transformers have been damaged across the state.

Informing this in Assembly on Wednesday, Power Minister, James K. Sangma said that 70 transformers were damaged in East Khasi Hills, 18 in West Khasi hills, 16 in South West Khasi Hills, 15 in Ri-Bhoi, 9 in East Jaiñtia Hills, 23 in West Jaintia Hills, 18 in East Garo Hills, 52 West Garo Hills, 76 in South West Garo Hills, 10 in North Garo Hills, and 9 in South Garo Hills district.

Admitting that many villages were not having power supply for the last many months, Sangma said the reason that many villages remained without electricity was due to the failure of distribution transformers.

The most common causes of the failure of transformers include lightning including high intensity of lightning where the lightning arresters cannot divert the voltage surge to earth causing the transformer to fail, earth faults and short circuit of distribution lines due to weather conditions like strong wind, storm, falling of tree, drawing of power beyond the contract demand and illegal tapping that caused overloading and unbalanced loading, besides pilferage of transformer oil.

Sangma said that earlier Rs 527 lakh was also earmarked for the procurement of 395 distribution transformers, out of which, 147 transformers have been received and the rest was expected to be received by the end of this month.

He also said that damaged transformers were taken for repair at three workshops of the MeECL.

Admitting shortage of workshops, he said that private workshops in Shillong and Guwahati were also engaged.