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| Govt denies funds to PDD for electricity maintenance | | J&K set to witness worst power scenario this winter | | Peerzada Ummer
Early Times Report
srinagar, Oct 30: Contrary to claims of the government about adhering to the power curtailment schedule, darker days are in the offing for the people of J&K this year.
Deputy Chief Minister Dr Nirmal Singh, who also holds the vital portfolio of Power, hasn't reportedly allotted sufficient funds to the Power Development Department (PDD), which could have ensured proper electricity during the winter.
Sources said PDD top brass has already apprised the government about the outcome of not releasing funds for rectification of the system.
Apart from urban areas of the state including Jammu and Srinagar cities, the rural belts would face the worst ever brunt of the power crisis this year, said sources.
Chief Engineer PDD, Kashmir, Bashir Ahmad Khan said there are no resources available with the department. He said the PDD at present is not in a position to live up to the expectations of the people during the harsh winter period.
"We do not have any funds to maintain electricity supply properly. The government has not sanctioned any funds so that we could have rectified the errors and supply power without cuts to the consumers," Khan told Early Times.
He said the PDD has nothing in its own hands as it is the government which has to release funds for the maintenance of electricity.
"We are facing serious dearth of resources. If the government releases sufficient funds, we will be able to cope up with the challenge and provide proper supply to the consumers," the Chief Engineer said.
Meanwhile, the people of the state should prepare themselves for the worst winter phase as there has never been such shabby condition of the power sector as is being witnessed this year. "There will be frequent cuts, more dark hours and no respite from all this during this year's winters," a PDD source said.
Ironically, the government has been claiming that it has prioritized to minimize inconvenience to people during hostile wintry conditions and has directed the PDD to work out an institutional mechanism that will ensure availability of power, strictly in accordance with the schedule notified by it.
The government also claims that it has issued instructions to fast-track metering and gearing up inspections to check the pilferage of power. With onset of winter, the government said that it has become imperative to educate people to make judicious use of power, enabling the PDD to deliver better services and reduce damage to transformers.
But experts sound alarm, saying the people of the state are not at the fault this time but the government which by its non-serious attitude is pushing the people towards the darker period.
"The winter hasn't come yet but the regular power cuts have. It is unfortunate that the government is non-serious towards providing what is otherwise the right of the people. Despite heavy power tariffs, the government continues to take the people for a ride," said Haider Ali Khan, a social activist. |
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