Adil Lateef
Srinagar, May 22: A solar power plant meant for the lighting of Sub-District Hospital (SDH) Uri in North Kashmir’s Baramulla district is lying defunct after it developed some snag two years ago and ironically the repairing agency is not responding to repeated communiqués of Health Department.
Officials of Health Department told Excelsior that the 5KV solar power plant was installed by Science and Technology Department of State Government for SDH Uri in district Baramulla in its premises in year 2003. They said the plant came up at the cost of Rs. 25 lakh and resolved 50 percent power problem of the hospital. Similar plants were also established in Kupwara and Rajouri districts during that period.
Comprising of 60 batteries and with a warranty of five years, the plant, however, developed first snag due to deadly October 8, 2005 earthquake. The officials said that the plant was then repaired and it worked smoothly till 2011 when it again developed the snag.
The officials said in 2014, the repair agency M/s ADS Projects & Systems Pvt. Ltd, which is also Channel Partner of MNRE (Ministry of New and Renewable Energy, Government of India) as System Integrator, repaired the plant and made it functional again. But then, they said, the plant yet again developed snag in 2014 and is lying defunct till date.
A senior Health Department official insisting not to be named said that they have been regularly contacting the ADS Projects & Systems but there has been no response from them.
The official said that the Health Department has now issued a warning to the concerned repair agency and made it clear them that “department will file a case against the company in Consumer Court”.
Chief Medical Officer (CMO) Baramulla, Dr Bashir Ahmad, confirmed to Excelsior that the solar plant in SDH Uri is lying defunct. Admitting the importance of the solar plant, the CMO said that they are making all efforts to make it functional again.
Follow our WhatsApp channel
