GS Asgotra
Early Times Report
Jammu, July 29: In what can be termed as poor planning of Power Development Department (PDD), the single Power Meter Testing Laboratory has turned out to be merely a showpiece, forcing the people to move for private players to get their meters tested. Sources informed Early Times that Power Development Department (PDD) Jammu province, has only one Protecting and Meter Testing Laboratory (P&MTL) across province but since its establishment, it has failed to provide results.
Since its establishment inside Chief Engineer PDD office complex along Canal road, the P&MTL has been lying dysfunctional, which itself exposes the lackadaisical approach of the authorities concerned", an official pleading anonymity said. He further added that due to virtually defunct Meter Testing Laboratory, users have to rely on private meter testing laboratories, who charge exorbitantly, in comparison to government laboratory. "Several Lakhs rupees were spent for the establishment of the laboratory, nearly a decade back but it failed to give the results as either there is shortage of employees", he said.
He further said that the Meters, which were being installed by the private players, who have got the contract for installation of meters, never got their meters tested. "Before installation of meters, same must be tested by government laboratory but the lone laboratory near Canal Road office is lying defunct and the private players, have been getting their meters tested from the company", he said, adding in such situation, there was no check on the company meters. The basic motive of private players is to earn more and more profit, another senior official said, adding that if the checking of meters would be under control of the contractors, then the private contractors will definitely charge exorbitant rates and there would be no check on them.
Three employees including Assistant Engineer and two Junior Executive Engineer are deputed there but when this correspondent visited the laboratory, the employees were there but they refused to have any knowledge about the laboratory. Superintendent Engineer said that whenever there would be any complaint from the public, the meters were sent to the laboratory for testing. "But the company which is providing us new meters are already tested and so we install them without any check", he said. |
