No power in Doda region for week

Amir Karim Tantray & Ranjit Thakur

Tribune reporters

Jammu, February 12

Even as the twin districts of Doda and Kishtwar are without power for almost a week, the administration continues to remain insensitive towards the plight of people.

The chief engineer of the power development department hasn’t visited the area so far to inspect the ground situation. The authorities of the National Hydroelectric Power Corporation (NHPC) haven’t been successful in restoring the power supply.

“We may not be able to restore the supply on Tuesday. We expect the work to be completed by Wednesday up to Doda,” Gopi Chandra Sinha, deputy general manager (transmission), NHPC, told The Tribune.

On February 7, snow lashed the two districts and snapped all communication lines, including NHPC’s 132-KV transmission line supplying electricity to the region.

The 110-km Batote-Kishtwar national highway was thrown open after three days of closure but electricity hasn’t been restored yet.

When contacted, Adviser to Governor Kewal Kumar Sharma said, “We have taken up the issue with the NHPC. It has sought some time to address the problem.”

Locals take to streets

Residents of Doda on Tuesday held a protest against the state’s failure in restoring power supply to the Chenab region for the past one week.

Thousands of people in Doda and Kishtwar districts are suffering as eight towers of the NHPC 132-KV line have been damaged.

Civil society members hit the streets and raised slogans against the state and district administration for their “ill-preparedness” for the winter.

“It is unfortunate that the state is missing at the time of crisis. People are facing shortage of medicines, potable drinking water, ration, kerosene oil and other essential services,” Ishtaq Ahmed Dev, a civil society member, said.

Doda Deputy Commissioner Anshul Garg said, “I have deputed two officials in Batote and they are updating me time to time. Hopefully, within two days, the power supply will be restored as 70 per cent work on the damaged towers has been completed.”

8 towers damaged

Thousands of people in Doda and Kishtwar districts are suffering as eight towers of the National Hydroelectric Power Corporation’s 132-KV line have been damaged due to snowfall and the restoration process is yet to be completed.