BJP spokesperson urges action against drug abuse in Udhampur

Jammu, Aug 01: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) spokesperson Ranbir Singh Pathania on Thursday expressed serious concerns over drug abuse and power supply issues in Udhampur.
Addressing a meeting of party cadres at Village Ghar Dhamma in Tehsil Bajalta, Pathania called for stringent measures to combat the growing menace of drug addiction in the region.
He pointed to recent tragic incidents as evidence of the crisis, including the suicide of a 32-year-old in Majalta and the suspicious death of a forest guard with a history of drug addiction in the Ramnagar area. “There is a dire need to protect the youth from the destructive impact of drugs,” he said.
Pathania criticised the police for their “insufficient” handling of the issue. He said effective steps must be taken on a war footing to address this crisis.
In addition to the drug issue, the BJP spokesperson addressed public concerns about electricity. He called for moderating electricity bills and ending unscheduled power cuts.
“Although the government has not increased power tariffs, consumer bills have surged two to three times, placing a significant financial burden on the poor,” he said. He urged the government to address unscheduled power cuts, which have been causing considerable inconvenience to the public.
Ranbir also raised several local infrastructure issues, including the installation of transformers at Village Ghar Dhamma and Baltoa Laid, the inclusion of the Dhamma to Pagyal Road under the Public Works Department (PWD) projects, and the connection of Kathil Jansal Road with the Punna PMGSY Road.
On the issue of drinking water, Pathania expressed concerns about the Jal Jeevan Mission projects. “While many projects have been completed, the supply of water has yet to commence, and existing networks have been damaged,” he said. He called for quality control checks and proper implementation of these projects.