Samba, Jan 08: Apni Party Provincial President, Jammu and former minister, S Manjit Singh on Monday expressed anguish over growing power crisis due to unscheduled power cuts in Jammu plains amid harsh weather conditions, saying this has put normal life out of gear.
“The acute cold weather conditions have affected normal life because the Jammu Power Distribution Corporation Limited (JPDCL) has failed to maintain the needed electricity supply in the rural as well as urban residential areas,” Singh said, addressing a meeting at village Nihalki in Vijaypur assembly constituency.
The former minister said the farmers have also suffered because they are unable to supply irrigation water using the water pumps to their agricultural fields. He said the authorities are unconcerned about the growing public woes and they have not been projecting the actual need for electricity that should be supplied to cater for the needs of the power consumers in Jammu and Kashmir.
“The Jammu and Kashmir has been facing an electricity crisis in Jammu as well as in Kashmir, yet the authorities are not acting promptly in response to the situation that has affected the normal life, agricultural activities, business and industrial sector,” he said.
Expressing concern over the delay in holding the assembly polls, he said that had there been an elected government, the power crises could have been handled timely without putting the people into trouble.
As far as the policy and agenda of the party, Manjit said that the Apni Party commits to ensuring 500 units of electricity during the summer season, and 300 units of electricity during the winter season in Jammu so that the people do not suffer.
“The harsh weather condition has an adverse impact and there is a dire need for the Govt to immediately take needed steps and provide relief to the people by supplying them 24/7 electricity,” he said.
Singh also demanded that the power tariff should be waived off in favour of the farmers and economically weaker sections.
Meanwhile, developmental issues were also discussed in the meeting. According to a party statement, earlier, dozens of youth joined the Apni Party in the presence of Manjit Singh. While welcoming them into the Party folds, the former minister hoped that their joining would strengthen the party.
