Srinagar, January 14 (KNO) : The already aggrieved residents will have no respite from erratic power cuts as the Power Development Department (PDD) seems in no mood to make the much-awaited Alestang grid station functional this winter.
The authorities in PDD had stated that the Alestang grid station that will bring respite to the people in terms of power supply will be commissioned by January 15.
However, the PDD officials seems to have set another deadline for the commissioning of Alestang grid station here, saying that the grid station will be made functional by mid March.
Incharge Superintending Engineer, Javaid Dar told KNO that “due to the dearth of manpower and bad weather, the commissioning of the grid will not be possible until Mid March.
” He added that there are technical things that are being brought from outside due to the dearth of manpower which can’t be possible soon due to bad weather.
However, he said that test charging of Alasteng Grid has been done and the work is still on to make it fully functional. He added that commissioning of the grid station will take further time, adding that they expect the commissioning of the grid station by mid March.
Earlier, the Chief Engineer PDD, Hashmat Qazi had stated that Alestang grid is being established from past some years and this year work was apace and is about to complete.
“I believe the work on the grid will be completed in a week following which line process will be done in 10-15 days. Once the grid will start functioning by the end of January 2019, I believe the people will heave a sigh of relief,” he added.
On December 29, last year, Advisor to Governor, Kewal Kumar Sharma also reviewed the preparedness ahead of the commissioning of Alasteng Grid Station and Srinagar-Leh Transmission Line, where he reprimanded the contractor agency for its failure to complete the line in time and directed the Chief Engineer Systems and Operations to initiate action in the matter.
The Advisor also discussed the power being supplied to the consumers and the improvements expected after the commissioning of the grid station. He also discussed the test charging of Alasteng Grid Station and directed the concerned officials to do it by first week of January.
The Advisor was briefed that the 220 KV line connecting 220/132/33 KV Alasteng Grid Station will be commissioned by January ending. The Transmission Line is being constructed by M/S Engineers and Construction Industries (ECI) Hyderabad on turnkey basis.(KNO)