Excelsior Correspondent
Jammu, July 8: Expressing anguish over the hell like situation facing the common man because of power crisis in the troublesome heat of the summer coupled with humidity, the former Union Minister and MLA, Prof. Chaman Lal Gupta ridiculed the tall taking by the ruling leaders that in the coming 5/6 months situation will improve.
Referring to the tall statements of the ruling leaders, Prof. Chaman Lal Gupta said there is no doubt that this State is having a vast Hyde Power potential but it is a pity that it could not be exploited despite expiry of over six decades of planning and spending of thousands of crores.
Responding to the complaints of the people of different areas of the State especially those of Jammu West Assembly Constituency, Prof. Chaman Lal Gupta observed that nothing can be more painful that the failure of the ruling lot to supply electricity as also the drinking water in this agonizing heat of the summer. He said there were long power cuts and more so, the sudden collapse of the supply system for one reason or the other. This is happening in the power potential of over 20,000 MWs. But the state could generate hardly about 760 MWs of power in the State sector against. The requirement of about 3000 MWs . The rest is being met with the royalty of 12 percent of the projects executed the Central agencies as also the purchase of power from out side which totals over 70 percent.
Prof. Gupta recalled that over four decades ago that the then Power Minister of the State had presented a similar rosy picture to meet the energy requirement of the State.
Interestingly the then opposition leader and great visionary, Pandit Prem Nath Dogra had quipped, “Sir do not make castles in the air and do something practical.”
Prof. Gupta said that even after expiry of more than 40 years the same old song is being repeated and the people are facing a very sad situation, so much so over 8 percent of the total annual budget is being spent to meet the power deficit.
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