PDD urged to shift HT wires running close to houses

QUOTE: “In the prevailing weather in the Jammu region, we can afford one or two hours of phased electricity cut in various mohallas. The power development department should take up the work on a war footing to relocate poles and HT wires running close to houses.” Suresh Abrol, Jammu residentVikram Sharma

Tribune News Service

Jammu, April 1

The high-tension wires running close to residential houses in congested areas of the old city pose a threat to the residents who are confined to their homes due to the lockdown in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic.

Many people said the high-tension wires running over their rooftops were a potential hazard and could lead to any eventuality.

Residents of various areas have appealed to the UT administration to make good use of the lockdown and deploy its men and machinery to improve the power infrastructure in the city and clear the congested areas of entangled wires.

With people being confined to their homes, they sometimes stroll on the rooftops to spend their time.

“The loosely hanging wires run close to many houses. Some of them are within hand’s reach and could prove fatal as children have been spending time in the lockdown by playing indoor games on rooftops,” said Malvika Verma, a resident of Sarwal.

Panjtirthi resident Suresh Abrol said: “In the prevailing weather in the Jammu region, we can afford one or two hours of phased electricity cut in various mohallas. The power development department should take up the work on a war footing to relocate poles and shift the HT wires running close to houses.”

Under its much-hyped Restructured Accelerated Power Development and Reforms Programme, the government had started replacing old wires, besides insulating the high-tension wires, but the project was stuck mid-way. The plan was to tighten wires and relocate poles installed near houses in many areas, but nothing has been done so far.

The old city consists of nearly 30 small and big localities which have over the years grown congested due to haphazard constructions.