Harsh Dev Singh NPP Chairman and its MLA Ramnagar has expressed grave concern over the damages caused to more than hundred electric transformers installed under RGGVY in district Udhampur resulting in power crisis in the affected areas and large scale resentment especially in the wake of ensuing Dewali festivity, which is a festival of lights. Alleging large scale bunglings and irregularities in the execution of electrification works under RGGVY Scheme in district Udhampur, he said, losses worth several crores had been caused to state exchequer due to sub standard materials used in the process. Accusing the Deptt. of use of inferior quality transformers in the said electrification scheme, he pointed out that out of 252 electric transformers installed in the district under the scheme, around 124 transformers have got damaged. He said that the most disgusting feature of the whole gamut was the total damage of the said transformers without any scope for their repairs. He said that all transformers installed under all other schemes of electrification were repairable but the EM&RE Deptt. had ruled out the possibility of the repairs of the said transformers installed under RGGVY Scheme and dumped all the 124 transformers in the Deptt.’s stores. He said that the Power Deptt. had pointed out that the transformers installed under RGGVY were copper based transformers as against ACSR (Aluminum Conductor Steel Reinforced) transformers which are prescribed by the Govt. and are used in various electrification schemes. He said that use of all copper and no steel in the said electrification process resulted in damage to transformers and resultant losses and abuse of public money.
Mr. Harsh Dev Singh said that the govt. had been initially dumping the damaged RGGVY transformers in the stores and providing substitute transformers out of Buffer Stock under the State / District Sector but recently the Buffer Stock had also been exhausted. He said the exhaustion of Buffer Stock of transformers and resultant non replacement of damaged RGGVY transformers in various areas of the District had created lot of unrest and resentment against the Deptt. but no action had been initiated by the higher authorities as on date. Harsh Dev Singh said that the issue of inferior quality of electrification work and poor quality transformers was agitated in the Assembly as well as other forums but regretfully the govt. had yet to respond. He said that the issue was of grave nature as the electrification contract under RGGVY was assigned to a Private Limited Company from outside the state which had executed the electrification works in total defiance of prevalent norms in the state and had declined to accept any suggestions given during the process of electrification. He said that such fraudulent electrification works have cost the District more than 50 crores for which the concerned authorities together with the executing agency was responsible. He said the situation was no different in other districts where also inferior quality was used resulting in unprecedented losses to the state.
Seeking a high level probe into the highly irregular and fraudulent execution of electrification works, Mr. Singh said that no less than a CBI enquiry into the matter would meet the ends of justice. He further warned the state govt. to ensure immediate replacement of all 124 damaged transformers of District Udhampur and well before Dewali festival failing which the people would be forced to resort to agitational course.