Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU, Feb 13: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah was likely to order action against 13 officers of Power Development Department (PDD), who were responsible for installation of sub standard quality transmission towers and electric poles in the border district of Poonch, which were uprooted and damaged with normal snowfall on January 18 leading to disruption of power supply in most parts of the district, which was now being fed from 33 KV Mendhar in rotation.
Omar, who holds the Power Department, had ordered a high level inquiry into the collapse of 133 KV transmission line in Poonch and uprooting of electric poles and towers with normal snowfall giving indications that sub standard material might have been used, which couldn’t withstand few inches of snowfall.
The Government was likely to handover the case to the State Vigilance Organisation (SVO) for further inquiry and action.
Principal Secretary, Power Development Department, A K Mehta had been appointed head of the Enquiry Committee along with senior officers and Engineers of the PDD to hold an inquiry into the installation of electric poles and towers, which were uprooted or folded after the snowstorm leading to collapse of 133 KV transmission line in Poonch and disruption of power supply in the entire border district till arrangements were made for rotational supply in the district through 33 KV transmission line from Mendhar.
Minister of State for Power Vikar Rasool confirmed to the Excelsior that Mr Mehta led team has completed inquiry into the power failure in Poonch district and submitted report to him, which he has forwarded to the Chief Minister, Incharge Power Department. He said the Chief Minister would announce action against the accused officers.
Mr Rasool, a Congress MLA from Banihal, who had assumed the charge as MoS Power besides other Departments including Independent charge of Technical Education after January 15 expansion in the Council of Ministry, said Omar Abdullah has taken up the issue of speedy restoration of power to Poonch district with Power Grid Corporation of India, which has expertise in such works.
“Hopefully, the Government would be able to restore power completely in Poonch district within the next one and a half months”, Vikar said, adding that funds have also been released for the purpose.
Official sources told the Excelsior that the Chief Minister on the basis of Inquiry Committee report has recommended action against 13 officers of the PDD, who were at the helm of affairs when the transmission line and electric poles were installed.
“The Enquiry Committee has probed that sub standard electric poles and transmission lines had been installed, which were not fit for installation in snow bound areas”, they said. Though Poonch had been receiving very mild snowfall for the past few years, this year it witnessed more snowfall (than the previous years) on January 18, which uprooted electric poles and folded some of them besides causing damage to the transmission line, leading to disruption of power supply in the entire district.
Taking serious note of power disruption in the border district of Poonch, the Chief Minister had immediately ordered a high level inquiry into collapse of electric poles and transmission line, headed by Principal Secretary, Power AK Mehta and comprising senior officers of PDD including the Engineers.
“In view of serious nature of offence (the installation of sub standard quality of electric poles and transmission towers) in snow prone areas, the Chief Minister has decided to take stern action against 13 officers, which would be announced tomorrow”, sources said, adding the Chief Minister has approved the action after accepting recommendations of the Enquiry Committee.
Sources said the issue of installation of sub standard electric poles and transmission line was first raised by MLA Poonch Aijaz Jan in the Assembly in 2010 after which the Chief Minister had deputed a high level team of the PDD to the border district, which had approved the poles and the towers.
Sources added that there were three specification of transmission towers including A1, A2 and A3, which approximately cost Rs 18 lakh, Rs 25 lakh and Rs 30 lakh respectively. In this case, A3 towers appeared to have been installed but they were shown as A1 category for withdrawal of excess amount.
“The low density electric poles and towers were installed but they were shown as high density. The low density poles couldn’t withstand the impact of snowfall. While some of the poles and towers were uprooted, others got folded, leading to complete disruption of electricity supply in the border district on January 18”, sources said.
They pointed out that at least 350 to 400 cement bags were used in laying founds of the towers. However, even foundation of towers had come out in some cases, which were witnessed by the Enquiry Committee. The high level panel has also got examined the specification of electric poles and transmission towers before reaching to a conclusion.
The Panel was surprised to see that two towers had fallen in the area, which had recorded just four inches of snow.
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