The Committee on Petitions of Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly today asked the Power Development Department (PDD) to resume pruning of trees adjacent to power transmission lines on regular basis to avoid untoward incidents.The recommendation was given by the Chairman of the Committee Choudhary Sukhnandan Kumar after reviewing a petition given by Abdul Rehman Sheikh S/O Mohammad Abdullah Sheikh R/O Kralgund Kralpora, Kupwara seeking compensation/government job. The petition reads that petitioner’s son Mr Jaffar Ahmad Sheikh while climbing on the tree for the purpose of looping received an electric current from an HT 11000 KV wire resulting in his instant death. It further reads the deceased was the main breadwinner in the family and the family deserves to be compensated.Legislators, Yawar Ahmed Mir, Noor Mohammad Sheikh, Gulzar Ahmed Wani, Pawan Kumar Gupta and Anjum Fazili urged upon the concerned authorities for adopting a responsible approach to deal with the cases lying pending before the department.It was observed by the Committee that pruning of trees adjacent to power transmission lines is an important component under maintenance of assets. It was also enjoined upon to formulate a comprehensive policy on permanent basis to pay compensation/relief/job to next of kins of deceased employee/linemen due to electric shock and negligence of the department.
The Committee observed that a well defined framework needs to be advised to cover the victims under SRO-43, keeping in view the humanitarian nature of the matter.Commissioner Secretary, Power Development Department, Dheeraj Gupta briefed the Committee about the case and assured that the department will settle the case within 15 days by providing compensation to the petitioner/to next of kins of the deceased. He also informed that a Committee has already been constituted of Chief Engineers of PDC to decide a comprehensive policy for payment of the cases.The Committee also discussed the other petitions given by Mr. Jaipal Singh S/o Late Punjab Singh, R/o Village Rang, Tehsil Ramnagar, District Udhampur regarding providing Government Job or compensation in lieu of acquisition of land and other Petitions given by Mr. Satvir Singh, S/o Late Yog Raj R/o Village Narore, Tehsil and District Udhampur regarding compassionate appointment under SRO-43.The Committee sought present status report of the cases and furnish to the members of the Committee to scrutinize the matter and the Committee will take further course of action in this regard.Secretary, PHE, Irrigation and Flood Control, Saurabh Bhagat, Secretary Technical PDD, Asgar Ali Majaz, Director Finance PDD, K K Gupta, besides other senior officers of PDD and PHE, I&FC, department and Assembly Secretariat were also attended the meeting.