Shadow Correspondent
Jammu, July, 29
Apni Party today staged a massive protest demonstration against the Govt for unscheduled power cuts that has impacted the normal life as well as irregular drinking water supply in Jammu.
The protest of the Party was led by its Provincial President, Jammu, and Former Minister, S. Manjit Singh along with leaders from various frontal organizations, and wings that started from Panama Chowk.
While shouting slogans in support of their demands, the protesting Party leaders marched in a peaceful manner holding placards, and Party flags towards the Managing Director, Jammu Power Distribution Corporation Limited to express their anguish against Govt for its failure.
The protesting Party leaders gathered in the office premises of the JPDCL to resent its failure in fulfilling the demand of adequate electricity supply even as meters have been installed in vast areas of Jammu plains.
“The Govt has completely failed on all fronts, particularly on providing adequate electricity supply to the consumers in Jammu in the summer season that has affected the normal life,” said the Former Minister S. Manjit Singh, addressing the protesters during the sit-in in the complex of JPDCL As the protesters continued their slogans against the Govt, Manjit Singh said that “The JPDCL has put additional burden on the pocket of the power consumers with the excessive bills although they do not get the charged electricity.”
“These power cuts are imposed in a phased manner that goes up to eight to ten hours in a day in the Jammu plains. Unfortunately, the villagers are worst affected, and no one is ready to speak for the poor people,” he added, while condemning the Govt as it failed to purchase the required power and did not fix responsibility on the erring JPDCL officials. Moreover, he stated that the drinking water supply system has also collapsed because of the power cuts even within Jammu City, Samba, Vijaypur, Kathua towns, Udhampur towns.
He warned that “If the JPDCL did not improve the power supply system, the Party would intensify its agitation against the Govt for its failure.”
He said that the JPDCL / KPDCL will be held accountable, if the Party forms the next Govt in Jammu and Kashmir as they have forced people to face the problem.
“During winters, they fail to provide electricity in Kashmir, and winter zones of Jammu region, and during the summers, the Jammu plains face the worst kind of power cuts that needs to be improved, but the present Govt has shown no interest,” he added.
He said that the voice of the people of Jammu cannot be silenced with the ‘autocratic attitude’ of the authorities. However, the people of Jammu are ready to come on the roads to fight for their constitutional rights.
Later, the protesters dispersed peacefully.
