Mohinder Verma
JAMMU, July 16: Aston-ishing it may sound but this is a harsh reality that in Jammu and Kashmir, which has witnessed transition from Governor Rule in 1990s to third elected Government at present, a grid station has not seen the light of the day during the past over two decades despite expenditure of Rs 5.20 crore till date. Even now, there is uncertainty over the completion of this project in near future.
Reliable sources told EXCELSIOR that the work on grid station was started at a cost of Rs 6 crore in 1992 when there was Governor Rule in the State. During the initial years, the execution of the project remained satisfactory and people of the Reasi particularly remote and far off areas were optimistic that following completion of work on this grid station they would be able to get adequate power supply.
However, with the passage of time the work on the project started getting delayed and after some years the work on the project came to standstill as due to inordinate delay in the work the cost of the grid station got escalated, sources said. After nine years, the project again received the attention and in 2001 its cost was revised at Rs 10 crore following which some amount was released to re-start the work.
After some years, the grid station once again started facing financial crisis, which led to stalling of the work. People of Reasi and adjoining areas, who had high hopes of getting adequate power supply following completion of this project, virtually understood that the project would never see light of the day for not being on the priority list of the then State Government.
In the year 2012, the issue again came to the notice of the Government and it got the cost of the project revised. Surprisingly, the cost of the project, which was to be constructed at a cost of Rs 6 crore, was re-worked at nearly Rs 16 crore—almost thrice the cost of original cost, sources said, adding till date an amount of Rs 5.20 crore has been expended on the grid station but without any fruitful outcome.
“This is the height of criminal negligence on the part of concerned authorities that a project of much importance for lakhs of people could not be completed during the past over two decades”, sources said. “In the absence of this grid station people of Reasi have been facing immense difficulties as this district is dependent on Burn-Katra Transmission Line, which too develops snags very frequently due to use of sub-standard material on 18 out of 58 towers”, they added.
In response to a question, sources said, “though an enquiry was initiated into use of sub-standard material but what happened thereafter remains a mystery as the officers, who are at the helm of affairs in the System and Operation Wing at present don’t want to say anything simply on the ground all this happened several years back”.
When contacted, Chief Engineer, System and Operation, Ajay Gupta said, “no funds are available to complete the grid station”.
Meanwhile, BJP MLA from Reasi, Baldev Raj Sharma said that he would vociferously raise the issue during the District Development Board meeting being held tomorrow as successive Governments have adopted step motherly treatment towards Reasi. He said that till date the power crisis in Reasi district has not been taken seriously despite the fact that people have been facing many difficulties.
“The fate of grid station is hanging in balance despite the fact that Jammu and Kashmir is getting financial assistance of crores of rupees from the Union Government under various schemes in power sector”, he added.
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