Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Mar 26: State Government today failed to specify any time frame for the 100% restoration of power supply in the Poonch district where 132 KV transmission line suffered extensive damage on January 17 and 18, 2013 due to heavy snowfall.
While calling the attention of the Government towards the prevailing power crisis in the Poonch district, National Conference MLA, Aijaz Ahmad Jan said, “no doubt the Government has released an amount of Rs 4.50 crore for restoration works but I want to know the time-frame within which power supply would be restored in the entire district”, adding “the people of major parts of the district have yet not received any respite from the prevailing crisis”.
However, Minister for Finance and Ladakh Affairs, who was replying on behalf of Minister In-charge Power said, “the work is going on war footing and sufficient amount has also been released”, adding “the first priority was to restore the 33 KV Rajouri-Mendhar-Poonch and 33 KV Rajouri-DKG-Poonch lines. After the restoration of power supply in major and small towns in the district, the process of restoration was further extended to remote villages”.
“At present against the normal availability of 48 MVA only 16 MVA power supply is available through 33 KV lines in the absence of 132 KV transmission lines”, he said, adding “presently the power supply to various towns of Poonch district is being regulated and 7-8 hours power supply is being provided in Poonch, 8-10 hours in Mendhar and 6-7 hours in Surankote, Mandi, Bufliaz, Loran and Sawjain. The normal power supply would be ensured only after restoration of 33 KV supply from Draba and Chandak Grids”.
He, however, did not specify any time-frame for the completion of entire work and 100% restoration of power supply in the border district.
Regarding the power consumption bill served to people, the Minister said, “as per SERC norms, the power consumption bill will not be served to the consumers of the area which do not get power for more than 15 days in a month”, adding “as far as metering is concerned, the Poonch town is 100% metered while as metering in rural areas is in process”.
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