Deputy Chief Minister, Dr Nirmal Singh convened a joint meeting of PDD and PHE department to review their functioning. Minister for PHE, Irrigation & Flood Control Sham Lal Choudhary, MLA West Sat Sharma, Chief Engineers, Superintendent Engineers, Executive Engineers and other senior functionaries of both the departments were present. Speaking at the meeting, Deputy Chief Minister asked the functionaries of the twin departments to put in their best to maintain regular supply of water and electricity to the people. “The PDD should provide dedicated transformers to PHE Department so that water supply was not affected”, the Dy CM directed and asked the PDD authorities to submit a proposal for setting up a new receiving station at Gandhi Nagar to decrease the load on existing infrastructure. He exhorted upon the department to upgrade the existing power infrastructure including maintenance and bifurcation of feeders. The department was asked to submit a report with the recommendations for steps to be taken to prevent damages to the transformers and cut down transmission and distribution losses. The Dy CM also asked PDD to constitute a committee to assess the damage to the power infrastructure in the recent rains. Dr Nirmal Singh further directed the PDD authorities to expedite the repair of the damaged transformers to ensure early restoration of power supply in affected areas. He underlined the need to work in close coordination to ensure prompt public delivery system. Sham Lal Choudhary discussed various issues of PHE Department with the Deputy Chief Minister and sought timely repair of transformers damaged at various tube wells. He also stressed on the need to make available more dedicated transformers for the smooth supply of water to the people. MLA Jammu West, Sat Sharma raised the issue pertaining to shortage of water and power supply in various areas of Jammu city and its peripheries. Responding to the issues, Dr Singh said that the Government is committed to provide all basic amenities to the people at their doorsteps. He also said that measures are underway to improve and upgrade the existing infrastructure of PHE and PDD. Highlighting the Restructured Accelerated Power Development and Reforms Programme(R-APDRP) and Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Gram Jyoti Yojana (DDUGJY) schemes for urban and rural electrification, Dr Singh said that 100 percent implementation of these schemes will ensure quality power supply and cut in the power pilferage at all levels. Later, the Deputy Chief Minister alongwith Minister for PHE, Irrigation & Flood Control Sham Lal Choudhary visited flood affected areas along Tawi river to take stock of damage caused by heavy rains.
