Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Mar 5: The non functioning of RGGVY transformers rocked the State Assembly with entire opposition from Jammu staging a walkout in protest against their mal functioning and unsatisfactory reply from the Minister of State for Power Vikar Rasool.
The issue was raised by MLAs Bani, Master Lal Chand who was supported by MLA Basohli, Jagdish Raj Sapolia soon after the Question hour and both of them came near Well of the House in protest.
Alleging power failure due to the break down of 13 transformers in their respective areas they shouted slogans against the Government “saying Bijli Pani Dey Na Sakay Jo Who Sarkar Nikami Hain-Jo Sarkar Nikami Hain Woh Sarkar Badalni hain’’(The Government which can’t provide water and power is lazy and the lazy Government is to be shunted out).
Later Lal Chand sat on dharna in the Well of the House. Though Speaker Mubarak Gul tried to pacify them to take their seats but the members continued protest. In the meantime CPI (M) MLA, M Y Tarigami and JKNPP, MLAs Harshdev Singh, B S Mankotia and Yashpaul Kundal, BJP MLAs led by Jugal Kishore Sharma also stood up from their seats and protested against the power failure and break down of transformers. The members alleged that the transformers under PGGVY were non functional and they were non repairable resulting into the power failure in various localities.
Tarigami said the State Government has not done any thing against the power failure in their constituencies despite several complaints.
The Congress and NC members including NC’s MLAs from Poonch -Aijaz Jan and Batmaloo Srinagar, Irfan Shah also made the complaint.
Jan said the transformers under PGGVY were not functioning properly and wanted to know how these transformers were installed. Shah said 10 to 12 transformers needing oil are pending.
Speaker’s plea that there was less time hence every member can’t speak on the issue failed to make any impact in the House as the members continued protest.
Intervening Minister of State for Power Vikar Rasool stood up to speak but the members continued the protest and NPP MLA Mankotia started argument with the Speaker on the issue.
The Minster candidly admitted that the transformers under RGGVY are non repairable. However he said that these transformers are of best quality and efforts will be made to create a system for their repairs. He said he will talk to Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah who also holds the portfolio of Power in this regard.
The Minster said that nearly 60 per cent of the power supply has been restored in Poonch where distribution system was disrupted by bad weather conditions.
He said the Bani-Basohli members should have informed him about the problem in their area and he would have looked into it. He said if there is any problem he would order probe.
Unsatisfied with Minister’s reply the BJP, its breakaway group, NPP, JSM members stood up and continued shouting slogans.
Though Speaker Mubark Gul asked Rashpal Singh of NC to speak on Governor’s address but his words lost in the din.
The opposition MLAs from Jammu continued protest and later staged a walkout. In the meantime PDP MLA from Tral, Mushtaq Ahmed Shah also came near the well to protest on a certain point. But Speaker asked him to take his seat as he had given the directives to Government on his issue.
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