First time J&K witnessing such a grim power scenario: Bhalla
STATE TIMES NEWS
JAMMU: J&K is reeling under an unprecedented power shortage forcing residents to take to streets against J&K power crisis.
Amidst the unscheduled and prolonged power cuts in Jammu and Kashmir, on Friday, Congress leaders and workers led by JKPCC Working President Raman Bhalla, General Secretaries Yogesh Sawhney, Manmohan Singh, Kanta Baan, Ex MLA Balwan Singh, JKPYC President Uday Bhanu Chib, Mahila Wing President Indu Pawar on Friday held a massive protest against the Manoj Sinha-led J&K administration for failure to address worst ever power crisis.
Prominent among those present on the occasion include Gurdarshan Singh, Suresh Kr. Dogra, Swran Singh, Ex Youth President Parnav Sagotra, PCC Secretary Pawan Raina, Rajveer Singh, Sanjeev Panda, Satish Sharma, Vijay Singh Chib, Vandana Makhnotra, Arti Gupta, Sushma Choudhary, Hoshiar Singh, Satish Sharma, Corporator Dewarka Choudhary, Jatinder Singh Chib, Rajinder Jamwal, Thomas Khokhar, Chander Sheikhar Sharma, Atul Sharma, Dewan Chand, Janak Raj, Satpal Sapolia, Jatin Vashisht, Paras Ram Baloria, Gagan Bral, Pawan Bhagat, Tarshem Lal, Sahil Shavotra, Gopal Sharma, Rajesh Sharma, Vishal Dhan, Deepak Jaallalu, Sunil Slathia, Raj Kamotea, Arid Malik, Om Parkash, Vijay Manash beside others.
Congress leaders and workers holding placards raised slogans against LG Administration and Union Govt for leaving people in lurch amidst scorching heat.
Meanwhile Police had tough time in controlling huge gathering despite deputed in good number as the protesters were heading towards Governor’s house following which PCC Working President Raman Bhalla and former Minister Yogesh Sawhney, General Secretary PCC Incharge District President Jammu (U) and General Secretary Manmohan Singh along with other Congress leaders, were detained by the J&K Police and held into custody.
Speaking on the occasion, Bhalla criticized the LG Manoj Sinha-led functionaries over ‘failure’ to cope with the power crisis in the past several days forcing residents to take to the streets.
He pinned the onus on the J&K administration and urged them to at least account for it, if not resolve the crisis. He said several towns and villages have been deprived of electricity for ten to twelve hours in the past 24 hours. He questioned the J&K administration for not opting for gas turbines, instead of coal-fired power plants. He blamed the J&K government for not doing enough to resolve the power crisis. “This is first time we are witnessing such a scenario in J&K,” said Bhalla.
The power cuts have impacted the businessmen and industrial unit holders. This crisis has now entered in its third week.
Earlier, aggrieved people used to convey their problems to mainstream politicians and they would take complaints seriously. Now, bureaucrats are at the helm of affairs who aren’t bothered about the problems of locals,” he added.
At several places, power crisis has even affected the potable water supply.
Yogesh Sawhney and Manmohan Singh demanded from LG Manoj Sinha for looking into the problems so that people of J&K get some respite as they are getting power just for four to five hours in a day.