Div Com calls for immediate measures to ensure power, water supply in Jammu division

Asks to Set up control rooms, appoint nodal officers to streamline public services

JAMMU, June 13: To ensure regular supply of power and drinking water and address any emergent crisis situation in Jammu division, Divisional Commissioner Ramesh Kumar today chaired a high-level meeting with Deputy Commissioners and Chief Engineers of Jammu Power Development Corporation Limited and Jal Shakti Department.

In a move aimed at ensuring accountability, the Div Com directed that each district must have a designated nodal officer from within Jal Shakti Department or JPDCL to act as a single point of contact in case of any irregularity in supply of these essential amenities. He also directed that a control room be set up and the contact number be widely published for the convenience of the public.

The nodal officer would also provide a daily report to the Div Com office regarding any issue pertaining to water or electricity supply and any unusual power curtailment or related issues.

The Div Com directed officials of JPDCL to stick to a well publicised curtailment schedule to ensure that the public doesn’t suffer indefinitely. He also called for coordination between mechanical and civil divisions of the Jal Shakti Department.

The Div Com took stock of available stock replacement and replacement rate of machinery in all districts. He was informed that a scheduled power-cut of 2 hours has been earmarked for urban areas with smart meters installed and 8 hours scheduled cuts for rural areas.

The Div Com was also apprised about the status of pending machinery purchases by the JPDCL. He was assured by engineers that the damage rate of transformers has greatly been reduced and the time taken to replace them has also been reduced to 2 to 4 hours in urban areas and to less than a day for rural areas.

Managing Director JPDCL assured the Div Com that no industries would be made to suffer besides the common public as all their power requirements would be expeditiously met.

The Div Com also directed that dedicated and uninterrupted power be supplied to Government Medical College Udhampur. It was decided during the meeting that water filtration plants would be exempted from scheduled power cuts.

The Div Com has also asked the Managing Director of JPDCL and Chief Engineer to visit District Doda to address its most pressing power-related issues.

The Div Com gave specific instructions to the Jal Shakti Department to rationalise its men and machinery and to give special attention to remote and Kandi areas. The department was also directed to identify and penalise illegal irrigation pumps so that genuine consumers are not faced with difficulties.

The Div Com reviewed the status of water supply tankers of Jammu Municipal Corporation and Jal Shakti Department and emphasised that these services be ensured around the clock for areas facing acute water shortage. He also called for immediate steps to plug water supply leakages within Jammu City.

The district administrations were also directed to make demand for essential supplies like poles, wires etc. and other bare minimum requirements to be fulfilled immediately.

The Div Com made special mention of water supply in Katra and Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Bhavan. He said that water supply must be ensured in these two vital areas of the division.

Those present at the meeting also included senior officers of JPDCL, Power Development Department and Jal Shakti Department besides Deputy Commissioners and other district staff who participated virtually.