8 yrs on, Lastadhar substation project a non-starter

Was to be ready by 2013

* The foundation stone of the Lastadhar sub-station was laid by former Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal in 2011 ahead of the state assembly elections

* The project was to be completed in two years but the HP State Electricity Board Limited started working on it in 2017

* A retaining wall and three small towers is all the work the Board has been able to undertake in the past two years

BQ

The HPSEBL has summoned the contractor and directed him to speed up the work. The contractor has raised some issues which are being addressed. We will inspect the site

Ranvir Jalta, hpsebl director (technical)

Kuldeep Chauhan

Tribune News Service

Chopal (Shimla), November 26

There is no respite for residents of Chopal subdivision here from fluctuating voltage, frequent power cuts and blackouts. The construction of the Rs23.56-crore sub-station and transmission line at Lastadhar near here remains a non-starter even after eight years.

According to sources, the Delhi-based contractor has sublet the work to sub-contractors and the firm has run out of funds too, raising questions on the allotment of work to a bankrupt company.

The foundation stone of the Lastadhar sub-station was laid by former Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal in 2011 ahead of the state assembly elections.

The HP State Electricity Board Limited (HPSEBL) was to construct the 66/22 KV Lastadhar sub-station at a cost of Rs8.30 crore and was to set up the 66 KV transmission line at a cost of Rs15.26 crore to address the problem of low voltage and power cuts in Chopal.

The project was to be completed in two years but the HPSEBL started working on it in 2017.

A visit to the substation site revealed that the work had come to a standstill. Construction of a retaining wall and three small towers is all the work the Board has been able to undertake in the past two years.

Local residents said they visited the HPSEBL office several times, requesting the Board to expedite the work, but all their pleas fell on deaf ears.

The HPSEBL has also reportedly failed to construct a transformer at Hiragdhar to address the power voltage issue in Shilgranh and Hiragdhar, which have 16 houses. “Residents of Dewat, Kharu-Duina Bateori, Bahaldhar, Kumra, Shillikian, Pabaas and other villages in the subdivision face the low voltage problem and blackouts almost every day. The situation in the entire subdivision is no better as it remains at the mercy of the Auli substation in Kotkhai,” a local said.

HPSEBL Director (technical) Ranvir Jalta said the Board had summoned the contractor and directed him to speed up the work. “The contractor has raised some issues which are being addressed. We will inspect the site,” he added.