Contractors showing least interest in PDD’s works
Mohinder Verma
JAMMU, Oct 16: In a major blot on the performance of Power Development Department, work on power transmission line which suffered extensive damage over three years back has yet not begun thereby depriving vast area in the border district of Poonch of dependable electricity supply. This is mainly because the contractors have not been showing any interest in the works of the department on the experience of delayed payments and lack of cooperation.
Official sources told EXCELSIOR that 132 KV double circuit transmission line from Rajouri to Draba in Poonch suffered extensive damaged in January 2013 due to heavy snowfall. Similarly, 132 KV single circuit transmission line from Draba to Chandak which was running along the left bank of river Suran suffered damage in September 2014 due to flash floods.
Though 132 KV double circuit transmission line from Rajouri to Draba was restored after more than three years in May 2016 at a cost of Rs 2.81 crore, the work on 132 KV single circuit transmission line from Draba to Chandak has not begun till date.
Since the power supply from Grid Station Chandak was not possible in view of the damage to the transmission line, the Grid Station Draba was augmented from 1*20 MVA to 2*20 MVA capacity under National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF) and the power supply to the affected areas was restored through 33 KV lines, sources said while disclosing that this was only temporary measure and was not sufficient for providing dependable electricity supply to the vast area of the border district.
Though the Power Development Department floated tender for laying of Draba-Chandak transmission line on turnkey basis yet there was no response from the contractors. This led to extension of tenders six times but again there was poor response resulting into cancellation of tender.
“As all its efforts failed to yield results owing to its poor image, the Power Development Department was left with no other option but to seek the help of Power Grid Corporation of India Limited for laying of 132 KV single circuit Draba-Chandak transmission line”, sources informed.
On the request of the State Government, the Power Grid Corporation of India Limited agreed to execute the work of reconstruction/re-alignment of the transmission line along right bank of river Suran at a cost of Rs 29.03 crore.
The PGCIL has floated the tenders for engagement of contractors for execution of this work”, sources said while disclosing that unlike the tenders of Power Development Department the exercise by the PGCIL has started receiving good response. However, no date can be specified for start of work on this vital transmission line.
In response to a question, sources said, “the private contractors are not showing any interest in the works of the Power Development Department because they have experienced a number of times that PDD is very slack in ensuring timely payments and extending required cooperation during the execution of works”, adding “these are the reasons behind contractors are more than keen in participating in the tenders of the PGCIL than those of PDD”.
Stating that not only for this transmission line, the private contractors are also not showing interest in other works of the Power Development Department, sources said, “keeping this aspect in mind the Government should have allotted the work of Draba-Chandak line to PGCIL soon after poor response to first tender”, adding “had this been done the transmission line would have been laid much earlier”.
No doubt, the PGCIL has decided to get the work on transmission line completed within 15 months from the date of award of contract but the Government should make a request for completion of work as early as possible so as to ensure dependable power supply to vast area of border district of Poonch, sources stressed.
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