Gopal Sharma
JAMMU, Sept 12: Entire Jammu Division, comprising of ten districts is facing worst ever power supply crisis as over 964 electric transformers have either damaged or washed away in recent rains and floods, while over 106 ton relief/ food material was air-lifted to Kashmir from Jammu air-base for the flood affected people of Kashmir.
Official sources said that over 50 to 60 percent areas of Jammu region including urban, rural and remote are without power and water supply. Though restoration work has been launched on war footing by the PDD and PHE authorities but still many rural and sub urban areas are facing much crisis. The power supply has been restored to the Jammu city and many other major towns of the region but condition in the remote areas and Rajouri, Poonch, Reasi, Udhampur Ramban, Doda and Kishtwar was not good.
Not only transformers but over 4500 electric poles including some big towers have either been washed away in flash floods or damaged/ broken due to rains, landslides or felling of trees. This is the worst kind of electricity crisis being faced by the State in last many decades. The PDD authorities have hired the services of about 14 private firms for the repair and restoration work of the damaged transformers and it has been claimed that in next 15 days almost all the transformers will be repaired.
Entire Pouni, Bharakh and Ransoo area is without power supply and the road connectivity also could not be restored even after 6th day. The people staged massive protest demonstration against State Government, Divisional and the District Administration Reasi at Pouni tehsil headquarters. Over 1000 people from adjoining areas led by several Sarpanchs and Panchs besides political leaders joined the public and raised slogans. Similar protests were held at Jawahar Nagar in Rajouri, Sher-e-Kashmir bridge Rajouri, Ramgarh in Samba, Mendhar and many other places.
Executive Engineer PDD Rajouri Mohd Irshad Choudhary said that till today, nearly 245 electric transformers were damaged in rains and while nearly 22 washed away in floods in the district. He further claimed that about 2100 electric poles (LT/HT lines) were either washed away or got broken in the floods, landslides during rains. About 50 % supply through LT lines has been restored while about 60 % on the HT lines. About 300 poles and cables from Jammu have been rushed to Rajouri and the work on war footing was going on. Mr Choudhary said that power has been restored fully in Rajouri town besides other major towns of the district while some areas of Thannamandi, Budhal, Kotranka, Kalakote, Darhal, Manjakote etc area still to be connected. He claimed that power infrastructure worth Rs 13 crores has been damaged in the district.
According to Executive Engineer PDD Poonch, Maqbool Naik, nearly 42 transformers have been damaged or washed away in floods in the entire district. He said 132 /33 KV lines have been badly damaged in the district. And about 200 poles have been either washed away or damaged. 13 big towers have also been damaged. While power to Poonch city, Surankot and Mendhar has been restored but Mandi could not be covered so far. He hoped that by tomorrow evening the power will be restored there. He said about 40 % power has been restored while the work on other areas is going on. It will take about two to three weeks for the restoration of power supply as many roads are still blocked and poles and other infrastructures can not be carried there on foot. He said loss to the tune of Rs 10 crore has been caused.
Chief Engineer, PDD (M&RE) Jammu, Shehnaz Goni when contacted claimed that so far about 964 transformers have been damaged or washed away in floods across Jammu region. She said about 14 private firms have also been engaged for repairing damaged transformers to tackle the crisis. She said in Jammu district the highest number of 350 transformers have been damaged, followed by Rajouri. She said about Rs 13cr liability is of the private firms which is yet to be cleared. But they agreed to render services in view of natural calamity and the devastation caused in the State. The Government has promised to release their funds immediately after repair work.
The Chief Engineer further said that in Udhampur district total 89 transformers have been damaged, 105 in Kathua, 82 in district Samba, 104 in Reasi, 35 in Ramban, 42 in Doda and 46 in Kishtwar. She claimed that private firms and Central workshop besides other staff have assured to repair all the damaged transformers within next 15 days. She said restoration of road link to the rural areas is also important to restore supply at the earliest.
Meanwhile, Nodal Officer Relief Jammu, Dr Abdul Rashid ( Director Industries Jammu) told the Excelsior that nearly 106 quintals of ration and other relief material has been airlifted to Kashmir from Jammu so far. He said about 24 officers including GM Industries Jammu, R K Thappa and others are working round the clock in shifts to monitor the supplies to Kashmir through IAF aircrafts. Supplies are also being made from this Jammu air base to remote areas of Reasi, Rajouri, Poonch, Mahore, Ramban and other parts of the region. Respective Dy Commissioners are monitoring the supplies in their areas. So far about 1000 blankets have also been provided to various parts of Jammu region besides food material and medicines. Most of the supplies being made to Kashmir are food ready to eat, bottles of mineral water, medicines etc.
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