Srinagar May 21: CPI (M) State Secretary Muhammad Yousuf Tarigami has asked the J&K Government to overhaul power distribution system in the state “to avoid public wrath.”
 In a statement today, he said the government should strengthen men and machinery in the divisional and district workshops and ensure that damaged transformers are timely repaired so that consumers don’t suffer on account of electricity day on and day off. “Lack of accountability and regular monitoring in the department have led to complete inertia among its rank and file putting the consumers to tremendous hardships,” he said. “Why should our students, aged and other consumers suffer for months together after a transformer is damaged and why should the consumers be charged with tariff when they are deprived of the electricity for weeks together.”
 Tarigami said that due to long black outs a simmering discontent is brewing  among people against the department. “It is the department’s responsibility to check overloading and misuse of power rather than taking refuge under these pretences,” he said
 The government, Tarigami said, has “absolutely no justification in depriving its own people from this vital basic facility especially in the wake of hike in the tariff slabs.”
 He also called for improving LT and HT network while calling for replacing old and worn out wires and poles.
 “In Kulgam district, the power situation is very depressing due to damage of dozens of transformers that are not being repaired for months. The government should earmark sufficient funds at the disposal of the concerned to tide over the crisis,” he said.

Lastupdate on : Mon, 21 May 2012 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Mon, 21 May 2012 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Tue, 22 May 2012 00:00:00 IST