*HT/LT network remains in deteriorated condition
Mohinder Verma
JAMMU, July 29: Notwi-thstanding the fact that Union Government has launched several reformative schemes in the power sector by infusing huge investment, the poor power infrastructure in Jammu and Kashmir has failed to show any major sign of improvement and people have been left with no other option but to curse the department.
This can be gauged from frequent damages to the distribution transformers and continuous worst condition of HT/LT network in major parts of the State, which otherwise should have received the priority attention of the Power Development Department.
Keeping in view the huge investment made in the power sector under Centrally sponsored schemes in Jammu and Kashmir during the past several years, there should have been drastic improvement in these two aspects of the power sector. But the prevailing situation altogether paints a dismal scenario.
As per the official data, the copy of which is available with EXCELSIOR, over 25% of the distribution transformers of the Power Development Depar-tment suffer damages every year. There are a total of 51919 distribution transformers of PDD in the length and breadth of the State out of which around 13000 transfers get damaged every year because of varied reasons.
According to the department, the rate of transformers damage in Kashmir valley is 28% while as the same in Jammu region is only 22% and in Ladakh region the rate of damage is 16%.
As per the Power Develop-ment Department, distribution transformers get damaged mainly due to excess use of load by the consumers despite the fact that installed capacity of each and every transformer is about 2-3 times more than the agreemented load of consumers fed from it.
This clearly indicates that department has failed to check illegal use of electricity, which as per the general perception is being encouraged by the field level officials of the department in order to fill their pockets.
“Moreover, why the department has failed to take action in illegal use of electricity despite admitting that unaccounted consumption is the primary cause of high AT&C losses in J&K”, sources asked.
Contrary to the claim of the PDD, there are several other factors which are responsible for frequent damages to the transformers. “The damage to the transformer even during slight rainfall raises a question about the quality of the transformer”, sources said, adding “during every rainfall generally it is said that water has entered the receiving station of the PDD but why the preventive measures are not being taken remains a million dollar question and raises doubts on the intentions of the concerned officers”.
Moreover, the HT/LT network in many parts of the State is in deplorable condition as the existing poles and conductors are decades old which need replacement by way of erection/ installation of new poles and worn out conductors.
“Though huge investigation has been made for improvement in HT/LT network, the change is visible only in urban areas of the State and the situation in far-off areas still paints a dismal scenario”, sources said.
“All this indicates that the tall claims about improvement in power sector by making effective use of Central assistance are only aimed at befooling the masses”, sources said, adding “these claims generally fall flat during the rainfall or strong winds”.
“Instead of making tall claims, those at the helm of affairs in the department should at least take all the required steps in order to bring down transformers damage rate as following damage to the transformer people remain deprived of electricity for days together even in the capital cities”, sources stressed.
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