 Early Times Report
Jammu, May 20: As there is no respite from the heat wave, the winter capital of the state is reeling under acute power shortage thus forcing people to go for fresh purchase of inverters and batteries for running electrical gadgets like fans and coolers to get some respite from the scorching heat.
The maximum temperature in Jammu is fluctuating between 42 degrees Celsius to 44 degrees Celsius and the weatherman has predicted it to cross 45 degrees C mark this season but despite that the people are facing hours long power shortage leaving them dejected.
The Private Public Partnership (PPP) mode in managing power affair in the state has proved to be a failure and giving nightmares to the people.
However, with the Government making tall claims regarding overall development of the state and Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti announcing special package for the power sector to provide uninterrupted power supply especially in the summer season, the idea of privatising power sector made people face the 'Power Punch' due to long hours power failure as cables often get damaged due to technical snags.
''Due to hours long power failure, it is not only becoming difficult to beat the heat but routine works are also getting hampered in banking sectors, telecom companies, insurance sectors, malls and various other outlets,'' Romesh Gupta, a local shopkeeper said.
He rued PPP mode of power management asserting that as M/s IRCON has replaced the cables with rubber cables and it is the only agency, who have to replace the faulty one but shifted the blame on state Power Development Department.
''Instead of taking instant action and restoring the power supply to provide relief to the people, the PDD and IRCON kept jumping over the issue and indulged in blame game,'' he asserted.
Pertinent to mention here that the Power Development Department is in process of changing normal LT wires with rubber coated cables to check power theft and illegal connections across the state.
In many areas, the cables have already been replaced, while in other parts, the work is in progress and for executing it, the Department has hired the services of M/s IRCON.
''Temperature is soaring with each passing day, and it is hard to carry on with routine activities due to electricity shortage,'' Aman Kumar, a student added.
He said, ''the Government needs to look into the matter seriously and make some alternate arrangements for immediate and uninterrupted power supply to the people.''
The power shortage has also affected the functioning in the media houses.
Meanwhile, the sale of gensets, inverters, power backup batteries have gone up in Jammu in view of power failure. |
