Covid-19 lockdown leaves people craving for electricity
Dozens of transformers awaiting repair of transformers cry hoarse
Anantnag: Dozens of faulty transformers are waiting for repair in different PDD workshops in South Kashmir but there is no body to repair them due to lock down amid the scare and fear of covid-19.
There are at least two dozen damaged transformers at PDD division Pulwama, Awantipora and Tral but there no body among the staff members is attending work to repair them.
“The mechanics are unable to reach to the workshops due to the lockdown,” said a PDD official.
He said that most of the transformers need repairs works as their main coils have suffered extensive damage due to overload.
“A faulty transformer usually takes a day or at the most three days for repairs depending on the extent of damage but severely damaged transformers can take even a week,” he said.
He said that many transformers were sent to central workshop at Pampore but due to the lockdown, the central workshop is also closed.
“Our mechanics are living in various areas that fall far off from the workshops sites. They are unable to reach to their place of work, hence no transformers are being repaired. This has resulted in many villages reeling under complete darkness,” the official added.
He alleged that authorities are not providing movement passes to the workforce and as a result they find it hard to move out and go to work.
“From the last ten days we haven’t repaired a single transformer and if condition remains the same then areas where the transformers have got damaged will have to wait for the restoration of electricity,” the official added.
Meanwhile, people of these areas including ZahidBagh, Chakoora and many other villages have alleged that they have been reeling under darkness from the last two weeks and authorities are doing nothing to repair these damaged transformers
On contacting Executive Engineer, PDD division Awantipora, Er Altaf Ahmad, he said due to heavy load many transformers were damaged in last month and many of them are yet to be repaired due to the minimal staff present at the workshop.
“We are working on it and in coming days, damaged transformers will be repaired,” he added.
Jahangeer Ganaie
