Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Apr 29: Taking serious note of power crisis at a time when the heat wave is increasing day-by-day thereby making the life of the people virtually a hell, BJP State general secretary and MLA Kathua, Rajiv Jasrotia has sought immediate intervention of Chief Minister to avert the crisis and provide relief to the people of the Jammu region in general and Kathua in particular.
Showing his grave concern over the power crisis being faced by the people of region Jasrotia stressed the need on taking urgent steps to improve the power supply by repairing and replacing the damaged transformers in some areas. Jasrotia further pointed out that being a local MLA, the people often knock his doors and even at times he had to face their wrath. Jasrotia stressed on conducting survey of the areas where transformers have been damaged and not repaired and replaced. The repair of transformers in private factories is held up due to payment issue and stressed that adequate fund be earmarked for the same as hampering of power supply is also affecting the water supply in those areas. Jasrotia suggested that if the Government is short of funds in State plan, it could find way to divert funds available under RAPDRP under which Rs 600 to 700 crore are available on adhoc basis to be recouped later for meeting the most immediate petty infrastructural gaps.
He said there is need to take steps to provide succor to the people during the scorching heat as everyday there are protests and demonstrations by the people over the power crisis in various parts of Jammu. What to talk of the non-metered areas, even the localities where 100% metering of consumers was done several years back, have been reeling under acute power crisis. The intensity of the prevailing situation can be gauged from the fact that an hour of power supply is followed by an hour of power cut, Jasrotia added. In such a situation when the people try to approach the concerned officers and officials to ascertain the reason behind the prolonging of curtailments nobody picks up the telephone at the grid stations. Even if somebody picks up the phone, the response remains unsatisfactory thereby compelling the people to come on the roads. “The Department has a number of times published the names and mobile numbers of the officers, who are supposed to respond to the public queries but it seems this exercise was only aimed at befooling the people as actually these mobile numbers remain switched off during the hours of emergency”, people told MLA.
He said “people are regularly complaining about the frequent power cuts and the anger has reached the climax”, he said, adding “as the heat wave in Jammu is continuing unabated I fear if some corrective action is not taken immediately, their protests may increase further”. “It is irony that despite paying tariff regularly people are being compelled to face the power cuts”, he said, adding “we cannot allow people to fend for themselves and we should do all that we can to ensure that those who are paying tariff do not suffer”.
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