Srinagar, January 6
Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad has sought to work out a plan to install an alternative power feeder line to Kashmir valley with a capacity of 400 kv to overcome power disruption due to damage caused by heavy snowfall. He has emphasised to complete this feeder line within six months so that during the disruption of one power feeder, another feeder is utilised, adding that it was very essential during winter months and snowfall.
Mr Azad, who visited the summer capital here earlier this week to review the restoration work and supplies position following the disruption of essential services like power and road connectivity due to recent snowfall, has also deputed three ministers to monitor these arrangements. The three Cabinet ministers — Peerzada Mohammed Syed, Hakeem Mohammed Yaseen and Nawang Rigzin Jora — arrived here from Jammu yesterday. The Chief Minister has expressed his concern over the disruption of power supply in the valley due to the damage caused by the recent snowfall, disconnecting 132 and 220 kv lines, which are nerve feeders of supply to the valley.
Reviewing the arrangements, the Minister for power, Nawang Rigzin Jora, stated that Development Commissioner (Power) and Chief Engineer (System and Operations) Jammu along with other workers were camping at the site of the transmission line, which has developed some technical snag were on national highway.
The work was going round the clock and the power supply to the valley was expected within a couple of days. The valley continued to reel under sub-zero temperature for the fifth consecutive day today, affecting normal life.
The Chief Engineer, Power (Maintenance), Mr Shoukat Rashid, said one circuit of the transmission line, supplying power to the valley from northern grid, had been restored today with the availability of 520 mw of power in the valley against a requirement of 1000 mw. He said some far-flung and hilly areas of the valley, including Sogam and Tangdhar in Kupwara district, were still cut off, leading to the disruption in about 15 per cent of the power supplies in these areas.
