Tarigami anguished over erratic power supply

Srinagar: July 08: Expressing deep anguish and concern over the erratic power supply in the state, CPI (M) state secretary and MLA Kulgam Mohammad Yousuf Tarigami has said that this results in severe inconveniences to the consumers besides affecting the essential services.

Tarigami in a statement issued here today said that under APDRP, the state was provided massive central funding but due to inefficient delivery system in the Power Development Department (PDD) hundreds of crores of rupees remained unutilized and got lapsed. “Had the funds under the programme been expended properly, the power distribution and transmission system would have been improved to a greater extent”, Tarigami said and urged the Govt. to make proper implementation of Rajiv Gandhi Grameen Vidyuti Karn Yojna(RGGVKY) that aims at electrification of every habitat by 2010.

He said that due to inefficient power distribution system, the pilferages have crossed above 50% thereby causing heavy losses to the state exchequer besides making the state a power deficit one and resulting in unscheduled power cuts. He said that improper and poor alignment and lying of HT/LT lines not only affect the power supply but also cause a threat to life and property as evident from the electrocution incidents happening day in and day out across the state. He drew the attention of the Govt. for addressing this grave concern.

The CPI (M) state secretary said that for months together the damaged transformers remain unprepared as there were only two central work shops in Kashmir and Jammu divisions that do not cater to the repairing needs. He demanded the Govt. to activate the existing Divisional and District level work shops by providing technical staff and other infrastructure to these so that the damaged transformers are repaired locally to contain the rush on the central work shops.

There was no justification in charging power tariff to the habitations that remain with out power supply for months together; Tarigami said adding that such areas should be exempted from the power tariff for the period they remain devoid of the supply. He demanded the Govt. to ensure scheduled power supply in the state especially in rural areas where people are forced to come to the streets for want of power supply.

The power sector should be accorded priority with focused attention towards power generation and reforms, Tarigami suggested the Govt. and said that out of state resources mini and micro Hydel projects be taken in hand to fulfill the energy requirements locally . He said that vast hydro potential of the state was running waste as the successive governments in Jammu and Kashmir did not think of a long lasting and comprehensive policy.

He urged the Govt. to devise a well evolved energy policy for identification and tapping of state’s hydro resources that would help the state to become power surplus one and boost the industrial sector in Jammu and Kashmir.