Transformers are part of the technical requirements of power supply system. But the experience with the electricity department is that transformers when desired to perform overload get damaged and have to be sent for repairs. There are about 7,000 transformers in Jammu region of which 3-5 per cent are damaged and waiting for repairs. It means that at least 350 transformers are damaged and have to be repaired. Repairing is partly done in three Government workshops but mostly private firms are engaged to do the repairing work. About ten or twelve of these firms have been engaged to repair the transformers. Their bill for repairs has accumulated to about 12 crore rupees but the Government has sanctioned only 2 crore and actually only one half has been released so far. This is despite the fact that the State Government formally announced that the amount of arrears of transformer repairing to the firms would be released. As a result, owing to nonpayment of arrears the private firms have refused to proceed with the work of repairing the transformers. The Government workshops cannot cope with the pressure of the work and the Government is delaying payment of repair charges. What is the net result and who is put to suffering? It is the poor tax payer and ordinary person who have been made to suffer. They get plunged into darkness and there seems no solution to the problem. There are two or three firms that are really in a position to carry on repair work and wait endlessly for the day when the Government is pleased to release the arrears. Generally all the other private firms are running their modest workshop and are living hand to mouth. Instead of helping them to stabilize their enterprise, the Government is creating hurdles for them by delaying the payment of arrears. We hope the Government will not make a joke of repairing the damaged transformers or of the people who expect it to be serious about solving their problems.
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