Illegal colonies flourish under high-tension power lines

Tribune News Service

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Jammu, January 22

In flagrant violation of rules, several residential colonies have sprung up near high-tension (HT) power transmission lines, which criss-cross these residential areas. Most of these colonies are illegal and residents face threat of electrocution.

Several newly developed colonies at Sidhra, Bhatindi, Janipur and Bantalab and Sainik Colony in Jammu have come up without any plan after 1990 and there is no check on their expansion. The irony is that the administration has turned a blind eye towards this unlawful activity and allowed their construction.

As per the rule, habitation centres cannot come up beneath high-tension transmission lines and they have to maintain minimum distance of 50 ft from them.

“What can we do? The administration and civic bodies have to take decision and steps to stop construction of illegal colonies. People are themselves risking their lives by illegally constructing and expanding residential and commercial structures under high-tension wires,” said a Power Development Department (PDD) official.

“Neither we have received any notice from the government to shift the high-tension power lines’ towers, nor any step been taken to prevent illegal construction. What can we do?” Power Development Department official claimed.

Sources said though the government had initiated several efforts to regularise unauthorised colonies of the city, it had done next to nothing in securing them from high-tension wires that passed through their localities.

Despite claims made by the government about action taken against illegal colonies established on encroached land, these colonies have mushroomed in the city during the past two decades.

Power Development Department officials maintain that unauthorised construction create a hindrance in efficient functioning of the transmission system and also damage the transmission lines and other electrical installations.