Watapora (Bandipora), Dec 30: The electric sub division catering to   thousands of consumers in this north Kashmir area is virtually defunct from the past few months owing to the “sub standard machinery” installed in the station.
Locals alleged that sub standard machinery like generator, UPS, digital printers, and electric batteries worth lakhs stopped working suddenly putting consumers in trouble.
The sub division which was thrown open for public in 2009 is catering to more than 20,000 consumers of about one dozen villages of Kaloosa block.
Sources said the machinery worth millions procured by the Departmental Purchasing Committee (DPC) was substandard and was purchased in violation of rules. “This not the case of Sub Station Watapora only, the main Division Office at Ajar too has inoperative machinery procured recently,” they added.
Officials in the PDD Division told Greater Kashmir that the matter has been many times reported to Executive Engineer and Chief Engineer Kashmir but their pleas seem to have fallen flat on the deaf ears.
“Consumers are being forced to suffer due to official apathy. Form past few months consumers are not getting their electric bills on time, besides the substandard digital printers on many occasions generate erroneous bills,” officials added.
“We used to prepare electric bills on 5th of every month, but from past a few months we have failed to deliver as our machinery is not working,” they added.
In absence of the machinery the officials are facing the wrath of agitated consumers’ who have not received the electricity bills for many months.
Meanwhile the consumers visiting the station for the electric bills have demanded probe into the purchase of the machinery besides seeking installation of news machinery in the office.
When contacted Executive Engineer PDD Bandipora said: “There are a few equipments defunct but we are looking after it.”

Lastupdate on : Sun, 30 Dec 2012 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Sun, 30 Dec 2012 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Mon, 31 Dec 2012 00:00:00 IST