Tribal areas of Kinnaur and Lahaul and Spiti in darkness for months

0

Some tribal areas in Kinnaur and Lahaul and Spiti district are in darkness for more than six months. This happened during winter season due to shutdown of 4 MW Rong-Tong project and lack of transmission lines.

This was stated by the Power and Multi-purpose Power Minister Sujan Singh Pathania while replying to query of  Ravi Thakur (Congress – Lahaul and Spiti) in the question hour today.

He said that  Rong-Tong project had been damaged after flash flood recently. It have been handed over to a firm to repair, renovate and modernize likely to re-commission by September 2014.

Minister said that the three 22 tower transmission lines from Baktoo to Akapa and Kaza to Losar in Lahaul and Spiti and Akapa to Pooh in Kinnaur district is under construction in different stages to cover the areas affected by the power project.

He said that transmission line could not be expedited for Akapa to Pooh and Pooh to Kaza due to unprecedented rains and want of forest clearances in glacier zones and sliding zone.

“Forest department considers itself to be the topmost boss, it takes time to settle final clearance, it is not easy work for electricity board to plead the case emphatically”, Minister said stating that government can not restore the power over the coming hurdle.

Minister said that portion excluding glacier and sliding zones in 66 km in Pooh to Kaza and 50 km line Kaza to Losar requires Rs. 690 crore and 342.60 crore, which is to be work out by the Department of Tribal of Himachal Pradesh.

Mr. Pathania, however, said that 98 percent of work of construction of Akapa-Pooh lines have been completed before rainy season.

Earlier, Mr. Thakur sought early completion of these project stating that for six months there is no power supply in the affected areas forcing the people to live in darkness. Moreover, students were deprived of computer and IT education and tourism and hotel business also suffered.

Previous articleHP Assembly adjourned amid ; opposition protest
Next articleAman Kachroo ragging death: Convicts may be readmitted to college

No posts to display