New Delhi / J & K: May 8th is going to be tough date with Jammu and Kashmir Power Development Department (JKPDD) as Chairman Central Electricity Authority (CCEA) would ask serious questions regarding projects sanctioned under Prime Minister’s Reconstruction Plan (PMRP). Approximately 40 power projects under system and operations were to be ready by 2013 which had been started in 2008. But are not, even more than Rs 700 crores in Kashmir and more than Rs 600 crores have been spent in the name of projects.
Real News Agency
In this connection, a team from Central Electricity Authority is visiting Valley on 29-04-2013 to access the ground situation of various grids and sites indicated already for in proposal to which sanctioned had been made, informed sources adding that team also would carry an inspection of progress of entire construction, maintenance, contract, vending and other allied process involved in projects and submit a report to Delhi.
Transmission and distribution (T&D) was a big problem and will continue to be so as even after spending Rs 1400 crores of PMRP, Chief Engineers of Jammu as well as of Kashmir in System and Operation wing have proved their inefficiency and inability to deliver. In a bid to hush up scams in PDD, Principal Secretary Power Development Department on recommendation of CEs of S&O Kashmir, Jammu vide letters CE/SOK/T-537?13463-66 dated 30-03-2013 and CE/S&O/J/T-171-17617-20 dated 06-03-2013 respectively and vide Development Commissioner Power letter No: DC/PD/STs/202/J/K/2012-13/1651-53 dated 15-04-2013.
According to order no;118 PDD of 2013 dated 26-04-2013, Enquiry Committee will be comprised of Dev Com Power as Convenor, Director Planning PDD as Member, Add. Sec HRM as Member FA/CAO as Member. But, if sources are to be believed then incumbent DCP has to attain superannuation on April 30th and the committee has to submit report in just two months. Whereas team from Delhi will submit report of findings in a week EC will take two months.
However, out of more than 22 projects in Valley on two contractors has been found faulty whereas in Jammu out of nearly 18 contractors has been listed as faulty. Sources said that maximum number of firms had paid bribes to keep out of defaulters list. To which EC would ascertain as to where and which stage of project laxity has been involved. Besides would ascertain reason of delay, delay in payments to contractors, delay by department or delay by CEA in approving, drawing, specification and inspection.
System and Operation wing of PDD has imposed Liquidated Damages (LD) on works allotted in turnkey contractors under PMRP’s Rs 1400 crores. The imposition is in discrimination allegedly and the projects are incomplete. Time and money has expired, people of the state are starving for the need of uninterrupted power supply. What would happen to them is a matter of serious thought and how would be they befooled once again remains worth to watch.