LAHORE, Feb 14: Basant cost the Lahore Electricity Supply Company (Lesco) Rs800,000 with 72 major power breakdowns on the day.

According to Lesco officials, the company was nevertheless able to contain the overall cost because of system augmentation despite the fact that suspension of power supply was more frequent than previous years.

In 2001, power breakdowns on the day totalled 1,747 — 86 major and 1,661 minor — and affected 384 feeders. In 2002, there were 2,011 trippings — 66 major and 1,945 minor, with 368 feeders affected. In 2003, the number of tripping went up to 2,545 with 72 major breakdowns and 2,473 minor ones.

Lesco had already covered 13 grid stations with a net to save them from falling kites that caused major disruptions in the system. The company is also installing an earth wire in one area at a cost of Rs150,000 per kilometre.

According to company experts, minor trippings would be controlled to a great extent if the experiment succeeded.

The company officials also claimed that its system or gadgets had sustained no major damage on the Basant day. Only two transformers were affected — not due to kite-related activities.

The joint teams of Lesco and police arrested around 300 people who had been using metal wire to fly kites. The company also plans to launch a website during the next two weeks and put all its administrative information on the web.