Apni Party protests against ‘worst power crisis’ in Jammu

Jammu, July 29: The Apni Party staged a massive protest demonstration on Monday against the government for unscheduled power cuts and irregular drinking water supply in Jammu.
The protest was led by the party’s Provincial President, Jammu and former minister S. Manjit Singh, along with leaders from various party organizations. The protest began at Panama Chowk and included a march toward the office of the Managing Director of Jammu Power Distribution Corporation Limited (JPDCL), the party said in a statement.
The protesters, carrying placards and party flags, peacefully expressed their dissatisfaction with the government’s handling of the electricity and water supply issues. Upon reaching the JPDCL office premises, they voiced their grievances about the inadequate electricity supply, despite the installation of meters in many areas of the Jammu plains.
Addressing the protesters, Manjit Singh criticised the government’s failure to provide sufficient electricity, particularly during the summer months, which has significantly disrupted daily life. He said that JPDCL’s imposition of excessive electricity bills has placed an undue financial burden on consumers, despite the limited availability of power.
“The government has completely failed on all fronts, especially in providing adequate electricity supply to consumers in Jammu during the summer season,” Singh said, adding that the phased power cuts, lasting up to eight to ten hours daily in the Jammu plains, have severely impacted rural areas, with no one advocating for the affected poor communities.
The Apni Party leader also condemned the government’s inability to procure the necessary power supply and the lack of accountability among JPDCL officials. He said the drinking water supply system has collapsed due to power cuts in Jammu City, Samba, Vijaypur, Kathua and Udhampur towns.
He warned that the Apni Party would intensify its agitation against the government if the JPDCL did not improve the power supply system.
“The JPDCL and KPDCL would be held accountable if the Apni Party formed the next government in Jammu and Kashmir, as they have forced people to endure these hardships,” he said. “During winters, they fail to provide electricity in Kashmir and the winter zones of the Jammu region, and during the summers, the Jammu plains face the worst kind of power cuts.”
Manjit said the people of Jammu would not be silenced by the authorities’ ‘autocratic attitude’ and were ready to take to the streets to fight for their constitutional rights.