A team of KSEB officials part of an inspection of the underground power house tunnel at Moolamattom in Idukki. They are conducting the exercise with the support of ham radio facility.
| Photo Credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT
During the crucial repair works at the Moolamattom power station of the Idukki hydroelectric project, ham radio service is playing a trailblazing role of transmitting timely information from the underground tunnels, which helps avoid casualties and ensures smooth inspection of the tunnels.According to officials, for the repair works, the Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB) has already dried up the tunnel, and the officials now need to complete the tunnel inspection.Idukki Ham Radio Society secretary Manoj T.R. said that based on the request by KSEB officials, they provided the ham radio service in the Moolamattom power plant. “There is no mobile network or other communication facilities inside the 1.5-km-long tunnel. There is a possibility of insufficient oxygen or other problems too. To ensure timely communication, we fixed six ham radio repeaters inside the tunnel and shared updates. The scuba divers moved in front with oxygen cylinders, and the ham radio operators followed them closely behind. The divers provided the updates, and in turn we shared it with KSEB officials. The ham radio service provided timely assistance to the officials to complete the inspection without any hassle,” said Mr. Manoj.Electricity Minister K. Krishnankutty also praised the KSEB officials and the ham radio service who completed the inspection inside the underground powerhouse tunnel. “Dam Safety Wing executive engineer Saina S., assistant executive June Joy, and assistant engineers Rahul Rajasekharan, Jayaprakash, and Baiju M.B. led the officials who carried out the inspection. Ham radio licensee Mr. Manoj T.R. arranged ham radio service for the inspection,” said the Minister.
