Unfenced power transformers put locals’ lives at risk

Jammu, December 6

Even as the Power Development Department (PDD) has invested crores in laying new infrastructure and providing electricity to the expanding population in Jammu, it continues to ignore the safety of people.

A majority of the transformers installed in Jammu city and outskirts are not fenced, leaving people and stray animals vulnerable to electrocution. These are posing as a grave threat to inhabitants. In most of the localities transformers have been installed close to ground or near busy roads having regular movement of pedestrians and motorists.

“Transformers have been installed without following the norms. There are no raised platforms at several places. We hope the PDD will now pay attention to securing its infrastructure in the new UT,” said Chand Dogra, who lives in Bhawani Nagar.

There have been a number of incidents across the state where people have been electrocuted when they came in close contact with wires and transformers installed without following the norms.

“Crores of rupees have been utilised in the R-APDRP programme, but no attention has been paid towards creating a security fence around power infrastructure. This should be given priority,” said Sulekha Kumari, a university student.

Locals also want that the department should establish a helpline in every division which will ensure that complaints of people are registered. They maintain that many of the phone numbers given by the department earlier in summer are not working or no response is given when a complaint is registered in case of an emergency. — TNS