Transformers sanctioned under Capex budget last winter awaits installation

People fume over delay, demand immediate commissioning

By: Ahmad Shabir

Anantnag: Despite approving the transformers in December-January last year for various villages in different divisions of the Valley, the authorities in the Power development Department have failed to install the transformers, thus leaving the local consumers to lurch at large.

PDD in December-January last year approved transformers for various villages in different power divisions of the valley. The transformers were sanctioned under the apex budget 2020-2021 either as new creations or up-gradations and were supposed to be installed and commissioned by March end.

However, most of these transformers approved by the PDD await installation despite the passage of seven to eight months, leaving the villagers fuming.

Following approval by the Chief Engineer, the Executive Engineers floated tenders for the execution of these works in their respective areas. The contracts were allotted to the lowest bidders.

As per the scheme, the officials concerned were supposed to lift the key material including transformers, conductor and electric poles from central store while as small equipments used to fix transformers and conductor were supposed to be purchased by the contractors.

However, people from different villages who spoke to Precious Kashmir complained that the PDD authorities are yet to execute the works sanctioned under the scheme.

Though the department has dropped the material like transformers and electric poles at the sites but nowhere the works have been completed.

Residents of a locality in Wopzan village complained that the transformer that has been brought to the village over six months ago has been gathering rust for want of installation.

“The department has no conductor to make the transformer functional. We have been approaching the concerned authorities since last winter with the lea to provide us the conductor but the only word we get to hear from them is ‘conductor is running short,” local residents said.

Similarly in another village Mahind where two transformers have been sanctioned for two localities under the scheme, one locality is still awaiting the installation of both the transformer and electric poles while at another locality, the transformer, according to residents is rusting on the bed for want of conductor.

“For last six to seven months we are being told that conductor is short while some of the officials tell us that the central store authorities are refusing to provide material to the PDD authorities of concerned divisions without the advance payment,” said the residents.

Residents of two other villages Durpora Khiram and Malpora Liwar equally fume over in delay over the installation and commissioning of transformers by the department.

Executive engineers of many PDD divisions have shot many letters to the chief engineer PDD seeking authorisation for lifting of material from central store.

Under pressure from people of these villages many executive engineers have written letters to chief engineer requesting him for authorisation to lift the key material from central stores.

“Deputations from these habitations are continuously visiting the office pressing for completion of these works. It is as requested that the key material for these spill over works may be got arranged so these works can be taken up and completed on priority basis,” a letter in possession of Precious Kashmir reads.

An official in the PDD said that the non-availability of funds with concerned PDD divisions has delayed the completion of these works.

“The central store is actually hesitant to provide the material on delayed payment that is why these works are dragging on for seven months,” the official said.

Chief Engineer, Er Ajaz Ahmad admitted that all the works on all the transformers sanctioned under the scheme are pending.

“We have collected data from all the divisions regarding these works. We are trying to arrange the material for all these works. In next two months all these works will be completed and transformers commissioned in next two months,” Chief Engineer said.

Related Articles