Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Jan 27: Notwithstanding damages in the power sector every year due to snowfall, the consolidation of existing infrastructure in the high altitude districts of the State has not received any focus of the State Government till date resulting into accumulation of damages and subsequent inconvenience to the people.
The situation in the Poonch district, where power infrastructure suffered highest ever damages during the massive snowfall on the intervening night of January 18 and 19, 2013, is one such district and a fit case to expose that Government is more concerned about the expansion of power sector and least bothered about consolidation of existing infrastructure.
Official sources told EXCELSIOR that a comprehensive scheme for restoration of HT/LT network and distribution sub-stations in Poonch district was framed on the instructions of Chief Minister passed in the District Development Board meeting held in the month of September 2009. The scheme was submitted to the higher authorities but no funds were released.
Thereafter the power infrastructure continued to suffer damages due to snowfall and other natural calamities every year but no serious attention was paid towards consolidation of existing infrastructure as a result of which the damages continued to accumulate, sources said.
Till 2009 power sector infrastructure suffered damages worth Rs 21.08 crore but during the year no funds were released to restore the same. Similarly during the period between 2009 and 2012 damages worth Rs 2.5 crore were reported from the entire district but only an amount of Rs 33 lakh was released. The damages caused by the massive snowfall on the intervening night of January 18 and 19 have been worked at Rs 5.50 crore till date. With this the damages accumulated in the power sector have gone up to Rs 29.08 crore, sources said.
Justifying the public outcry in view of Government’s least interest towards restoration of damages in power sector, sources hoped that Government would change its policy and pay required attention towards consolidation of existing infrastructure while carrying out expansion.
Sources said that 1257 kilometers 11 KV HT lines, 2355 kilometers LT lines and 1288 distribution sub-stations suffered damages during the heavy snowfall on January 18 and 19, 2013. Moreover, 16 number 132 KV towers, large network of 33 KV lines suffered damages.
“The assessment of damages could be possible only in four towns —Mandi, Surankote, Poonch and Mendhar whereas 70 % area is still inaccessible and exact loss could not be worked out”, sources said, adding as per the preliminary details more than 60 % network has suffered damages and needs rebuilding rather than restoration.
“As far as PHE sector is concerned, infrastructure of 71 water supply schemes has suffered damages while as 110 PWD roads with a total length of 434 kilometers have become un-motorable”, sources said, adding “PMGSY and ERA roads have also suffered damages but the details of the same are yet to be compiled”.
For immediate start of restoration works in different sectors, an amount of Rs 6-7 crore would be required by the district administration.
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