Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Dec 1: Former Minister and senior Congress leader Dr Manohar Lal Sharma has alleged that Dy Chief Minister Dr Nirmal Singh has failed to improve and streamline power system in the State.
In a press statement issued today, Mr Sharma alleged that the Minister In- charge Power has completely failed to exercise his supervisory role to improve/streamline the working of Power Development Department and even enforce the discipline in the working of whole department despite sizeable increase in power tariff.
He alleged that there was hue and cry across the State due to poor power supply, unscheduled curtailment, system over loading and delayed replacement of damaged transformers. In rural and hilly areas it takes months to the PDD to replace the damaged transformers. The daily wagers and casual labours who run the system in whole, practically in the field are without the wages since long but Government seems to be least bothered about their miseries.
Congress leader pointed out that due to increase in the power tariff, there is another big jolt to the consumers. They are paying hefty bills but the service is going to be poorest day by day. He said a number of projects of sub transmission, grid and distribution are lying pending without any reason and attention of the Minister concerned.
Dr Sharma expressed deep anguish over the casual approach of DyCM who happens to be the MLA from Billawar for the projects like creation of Grid in Gurah Kalyal, four receiving stations at Parnala, Lakhri, Agli Dhar (Kala Dabbar) and Juthana and improvement and electrification of uncovered area under RGGVY. The DPRs of all these projects have already been completed after techno- economy clearance from competent authority. It is unfortunate that DyCM is trying to shift the proposed workshop division from Billawar to Basohli.