STATE TIMES NEWS
JAMMU: JKPCC Vice President Raman Bhalla on Sunday launched a scathing attack on the UT Government for its gross failure in providing relief to the people of Jammu region from the ongoing power and water crisis.
Bhalla appealed to Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha to address power crisis in Jammu region after he received several distress calls from various areas of Gandhi Nagar constituency regarding unscheduled power cuts. Bhalla said the deepening power crisis is also adversely affecting water supply in Jammu as the PHE Department cannot lift the required quantity of water due to power outages.
He further alleged that the PDD officials were either not answering people’s calls or shifting blame on other departments. This was observed by former Minister after meeting deputations from Chata Brahman, Bermini, Domb, Saripari, Rati Sarari Mohallas, Dilli part of Trikuta Nagar extension, Friends Colony Adarsh Vihar Mohallas.
Bhalla expressed grave concern over the dismal power scenario in the Jammu region with sun radiating scorching heat waves since last week.
He maintained that in contrast to claims made on provision of adequate power supply for summer months, the Govt has miserably failed to come upto the expectations of people of the region as things have gone haywire and power outage has become synonymous to scorching heat under which Jammu is reeling these days.
Bhalla urged the higher ups in the department to take appropriate steps and ensure stable and power-cut free electricity supply to cater to the needs of the people reeling under sweltering heat of peak summers. He regretted frequent un-scheduled power cuts and irregular water supply in the entire region under raging sun with temperature soaring upto 44°c at Jammu. He said acute power crisis has not only made the life of a common man miserable in the towns and cities but also in the hinterland and remote areas during the ongoing summer season. Bhalla claimed that failure to plug leaks in the distribution network, installation of flow meters and pressure gauge gadgets, supervisory control and replacement of old pipes and installations of meters were the main factors for the huge loss of water during distribution. Bhalla further said that Jammu people are made to struggle amidst scorching heat for power and water supply which are the essentials of life during this season.
While stating that the COVID patients have also badly affected due to this unscheduled power cuts, He appealed LG Sinha to immediately review the ground situation by paying a personal visit to grid and power stations.
He said that in this scorching heat, the people of rural areas have been suffering due to water shortage for last one month and even after many complaints, no action has been taken by the PHE department to solve their problem.
He warned of blocking the main Kunjwani road if the issue is not resolved soon.
Bhalla while expressing his anguish over power and water crisis in Jammu rural areas said Government has no water and power crisis management mechanism in place to tide over acute power crisis during few months of acute summer in whole year.