For years at end Power Development Department (PDD) has been battling the menace of power theft and illegal power connections on a vast scale. It has made these two illegal activities of the consumers as the main reason for power cuts and low voltage. More often than not we have reflected on this issue in these columns. We have held the functionaries of PDD more responsible than the consumers. We will not have much to complain that consumers are fully responsible. Deployment of supervisory staff by the PDD is not lacking in anything that would give a chance to a consumer to misuse power supply either by stealing power or by defaulting payment of electric bills. While the PDD authorities pull out a plethora of actions it takes against the defaulting consumers it seldom makes known to the public what punitive action it has taken against the functionaries of the PDD who are alleged to be in league with the defaulting consumers.
On the orders of the Deputy Chief Minister, who holds the charge of Power Department, PDD initiated drive against power theft and illegal power connections. Obviously, Deputy Chief Minister’s orders take all the three regions of the State into its ambit. But the ground situation is that while the drive is pursued expeditiously and full earnestness in Jammu region, no activity of this kind is visible in Kashmir division. Not to talk of the drive, even orders to this effect have not been passed on to PDD authorities in Valley. Why does the PDD employ double standards? The PDD should explain its position to the discerning public in Jammu region. PDD has officially said many a time that consumption of electric power in Kashmir region is more than in Jammu region being in the ratio of 55:45 per cent. At the same time, revenue collection in Jammu is higher than the Kashmir. As per the official figures, during 2015-16 financial the Power Development Department realized Rs 1074 crore revenue from Jammu region as compared to Rs 835 crore from Kashmir valley. Similarly, during 2016-17 financial year, revenue to the tune of Rs 1111 crore was realized from Jammu region while as the tariff collection from the Kashmir valley was to the tune of merely Rs 733 crore. Is there logic in arguing that because there was turmoil for a long time in Kashmir, therefore, full realization of revenue could not be made? This is perverse logic. Why did not the PDD disconnect power supply? This would have served as deterrent to no payment of dues. Furthermore, if the PDD authorities think there is logic in not pursuing realization of revenue and let consumers have the cake as well as eat it, meaning consume unlimited electricity and pay nothing for it, this means a message goes to the consumers in Jammu and Ladakh regions to follow suit. Is this the logic in the desk books of the PDD and the Government? No segment of civil society in Jammu region escapes the drive launched against illegal connections and theft. We appreciate the basic philosophy and the persuasion of the Government to enforce the law. But why selectively people ask? And when the people of Jammu region raise their voice against discrimination, they are dubbed as regionalists and parochial. Jammu region has reason to be dissatisfied with the Power Minister who not only hails from Jammu but is also holding the charge of the Power Department. He should have been the foremost in not only discouraging but even opposing discrimination against the people of Jammu region leave aside ensuring uninterrupted power supply to Jammu during the harsh summer season.
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