Jammu MSMEs call for govt intervention to improve poor power condition in the region

Jammu, June 5 (KNN) The industrial units at the Bari Brahmana and Birpur Industrial Complex in Jammu have sought immediate intervention of Jammu and Kashmir Government to help the MSMEs incurring heavy financial losses due to unscheduled frequent power cuts in the area.

Lalit Mahajan, President, Bari Brahmana Industries Association (BBIA) said that despite tall claims by Department for the supply of 24 hours un-interrupted power to the industrial sector, frequent trippings  in the power supply are happening.

It is resulting into production losses and wastage of material in the process. The units engaged in the manufacturing of Steel, Plastics, Chemicals and other products are the worst sufferers as it takes long time to restart the production after removing the waste materials from the equipment, Mahajan pointed.

In spite of repeated reminders to the concerned Chief Engineers, no action has been taken by the Department to restore 24 hours uninterrupted power supply to the industrial sector, as announced by the Deputy Chief Minister Nirmal Singh.

“This shows the casual attitude of the Department towards the industrial sector which is working in spite of all the odds and providing employment to lakhs of people,” BBIA cried.

Mahajan further said that whenever the concerned officials are contacted to know the reasons for the frequent breakdowns in the Power Supply, they give lame excuses.

“It is a matter of great resentment amongst the unit holders that the Department has failed to provide the requisite funds for the Repair and Maintenance of the Gird/Receiving Station at Bari Brahmana in  spite of the fact that Bari Brahmana Industrial Complex is contributing  Rs. 140 Crores  annually  for the power supply to the Industrial units and if the Department spends One percent of the Revenue for the Repair and Maintenance of the Stations,  the same can be easily recovered by supplying the Power on regular basis without any unscheduled trippings,” BBIA said.

Highlighting that there is also severe delay in the sanction of new power connections, BBIA said  it takes months to get the Power Connections due to cumbersome procedure adopted by the Department as the files moves from around 16 Tables of M&RE, STD and System Operation Division and the limited Delegation of Powers to the Concerned Chief Engineers for the sanction of Power Connections.

“Inspite of our repeated request & reminders to the Government to adopt Ease of Doing Concept to revise the Delegation of Power for the sanction of Power Connections to the concern officials,  no action has been taken by the Power Development Department resulting delay in the sanctioning of Power Connections of the Industrial Units,” BBIA added.

Also, due to non-availability of requisite Spares and Consumables at the receiving Stations of Bari Brahmana, it takes hours to restore the Power Supply in case of any fault at the Receiving Station resulting huge production loss of the Industrial Units. 

The association has sought immediate intervention of Deputy Chief Minister Dr Nirmal Singh and Industries and Commerce Minister Chander Prakash Ganga to resolve the matter and revive the units reeling under crisis due to poor power infrastructure. (KNN Bureau)