Samba, Aug 01: Apni Party provincial president Jammu and former minister S Manjit Singh on Tuesday said the electricity supply system has “totally collapsed” in Jammu plains and the smart meters have become a source of harassment for the electricity consumers.
Addressing a monthly meeting of the Apni Party at Vijaypur, the former minister alleged that the people of Jammu plains have been left with no option by the PDD but to face harassment with the overcharged electricity bills, and constant unscheduled power cuts.
“The electricity charges are beyond the pocket of the general masses, and the electricity bills are excessively charged from the electricity users/consumers leading to outrage across Samba, Jammu, Kathua, and Udhampur,” he said.
“The people are getting electricity bills in thousands and some even in lakhs and it has become a new normal to collect charges of the electricity which the consumers never used. The cheating which is being done with the electricity consumers should be checked and investigated thoroughly so that the accused persons could be brought to book, and general masses could be provided relief,” he added.
As the temperature and humidity have increased in the plain areas, the PDD has increased unscheduled power cuts that are causing unbearable problems for the people, especially the elderly ailing and children, he said. “The PDD has totally collapsed to handle the issue and project the demand of electricity before the Govt so that required electricity can be purchased for the people of Jammu and Kashmir.”
The Jal Shakti Department has also not been able to supply drinking water and the farmers are unable to pump water for irrigation of their fields in the agricultural land in the absence of electricity supply for long hours, Singh alleged.
Meanwhile, he referred to the great inconvenience caused to the commuters on Jammu-Pathankot Highway due to the damages to two bridges in Kathua, and huge potholes on the highway from Lakhanpur in Kathua up to Bari Brahmana in Samba district.
He said that it is criminal negligence and accordingly, action should be taken against the tax collectors at Toll Plaza. “The highway is under construction with widening work, and expressway construction,” he added.
Besides, he also referred to the political rights for the Sikh, Jatt and Christian communities in Jammu and Kashmir and demanded political reservation for their political representatives.
“The Sikhs should get two Legislative Assembly seats in Jammu region and Kashmir regions. Similarly, two Legislative Assembly seats for Jatts, and one for the Christian community should be given in Jammu and Kashmir,” he said.
