Snow fury : PDD infrastructure witnesses over Rs 100 Crore damage

690 transformers, over 6000 electric poles, many towers damaged; power not restored in north Kashmir districts, half of Budgam yet, say officials

5 Dariya News

Srinagar 11-Nov-2019

The unseasonal snowfall that paralysed the normal life across Kashmir on November 7 has resulted in over Rs 100 Crore losses to the Kashmir’s power infrastructure as 700 transformers and over 6000 electric poles have witnessed intense damage.According to the wire service—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), the day-long heavy snowfall across Kashmir caused a huge damage to the region’s power infrastructure. Officials revealed that the overall losses calculated so far are up to the tune of over Rs 100 Crore.“At least 690 local transformers that supply electricity to the residential areas have got damaged. The total number of transformers in Kashmir is 29000,” an official said. “We will have to spent Rs seven crore to repair all the damaged transformers. Similarly, 6000 electric poles have got damaged due to the snowfall. We will be spending Rs 10,000 for the repairmen of each pole. So the amount will touch Rs 6 crore.”The official said that at majority of the places, high tension and low tension lines had fell down. “Those lines had to be erected again and the loss and damage component here was less,” he said. The official said that at some places receiving stations witnessed damage to their respective infrastructure’s which is being looked into. “The final details about the loss caused to the receiving stations is being ascertained,” he said. “So far total figure of loss that PDD has registered is over Rs 100 crore.”Talking to KNO about the restoration of power supply across Kashmir, Chief Engineer Power Development Department (PDD) Kashmir, Hashmat Qazi said that while as electricity has been restored in South and Central Kashmir including Srinagar, it will take a few more days to restore the supply in northern districts. “In districts like Kupwara, Baramulla and Bandipora, electricity has not been restored due to the damage caused to the infrastructure. In half of Budgam district, power supply has been restored while as work is on to restore the supply in remaining areas,” he said.The CE PDD said that men are on job to ensure total restoration of power supply across north Kashmir districts. “The supply will be restored shortly in these districts,” he said. (KNO)