JAMMU, JUN 8: Signaling more difficulties in store for the people in the prevailing hot conditions in this part of the state, the Registered Repairing Agencies (private firms) for repairing the damaged transformers in Jammu have stopped working for the Power Development Department (PDD) as it has allegedly failed to clear their pending dues which have accumulated to a whopping amount of about Rs 10 crore.
 Sources said that the private workshops have stopped repairing government transformers from past three days in protest against the delay in the release of their previous work done charges.
 They said that the PDD has registered twenty to twenty two workshops where it has been sending the damaged feeder transformers for repairing, but these have stopped to take more work as the department has failed to clear the pending dues amounting to Rs 10 crore. 
 Sources further said that the development has unnerved the authorities fearing public outcry in case of delay in the replacement of the damaged transformers, particularly when summer is on peak.
 “There are very hard days ahead for the people as well as the PDD as the Central Transformer Pool   in Jammu is running short of ready transformers”, sources said adding that such a situation would add fuel to the fire as the people are already angry over the prolonged power cuts being experienced in the region.
 From its Transformer Pool, the PDD supplies transformers to replace the damaged one and the damaged transformers are sent to these workshops for   repairs.  
 Sources informed that in Jammu, PDD has Central Workshop situated at Narwal, besides it has similar workshops in each district of the state. The workshops of the department have insufficient manpower, funds and machinery to meet the work load, particularly during summer.
 Sources informed that duirng past two months about 1200 transformers have damaged across the state and the repair of the same would become impossible in the prevailing situation.     
 Chief Engineer PDD EM&RE Jammu Shehnaz Goni, while talking to the Greater Kashmir said that departmental workshops were enough to cater to the need during normal days.
 “Only in emergency cases, PDD seek the services of Small Scale Industrial units (SSIs). Stopping of departmental works by the private workshops is not in my knowledge. If there is any balance of payments on part of the department, it will be cleared as and when funds are made available” added Goni.    
 Sources further said that the state government releases funds for the PDD under three heads viz for Plan, Non Plan, and for Small Scale Industries. Funds allotted under SSI head are used for procurements of various equipments and repairing of the transformer   and from some time the government is delaying the release of funds under SSI head for reasons known to those at the helm of affairs.
 PDD had to engage private firms of Jammu to repair the damaged stocks, so that damaged instruments are timely repaired to avoid any inconvenience to the consumers.

Lastupdate on : Fri, 8 Jun 2012 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Fri, 8 Jun 2012 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Sat, 9 Jun 2012 00:00:00 IST