Jammu: The Congress, a coalition partner of the NC-led Jammu and Kashmir government, today hit out at the Power Ministry headed by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah for the “lukewarm attitude to deal with the ongoing power crisis”, and demanded immediate steps to ensure uninterrupted supply.
A Congress delegation led by state vice-president Thakur Hari Singh requested to the Chief Minister to issue necessary directions to the concerned authorities in this regard so that the people may have a sigh of relief.
According to an official release of Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee here, a memorandum was submitted to Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, who is also state's Power Minister, through Jammu Divisional Commissioner Shantu Manu. The Congress delegation met the Divisional Commissioner and apprised him of the problems being faced by the people of Jammu Province in this scorching summer for want of regular supply of electric power.
The delegation also included former Deputy Chairman of Legislative Council Arvinder Singh Micky, and party general secretaries Maheshwar Singh, Chuni Lal Bhat, Darshan Raina and Rashid Choudhary.
Taking a dig at the Omar-led Power department, the Congress said, “It is also pertinent to mention here that the lukewarm attitude of the Power Development department is further tarnishing the image of the present government.”
The Congress, in its memorandum, said that the people were angry with the government as it had promised to supply regular and uninterrupted electricity in the area which are fully metered. The department is getting a major revenue from these areas.
“...our locality is giving huge revenue to the concerned department and despite that the consumers have to face darkness,” it said.
Most of the rural and far flung areas remain in darkness for days together as the damaged transformers are not replaced or repaired in time, it said.
“There is an acute need to improve the transmission and distribution system for proper supply of the electricity,” it said.
The Divisional Commissioner gave patient hearing to the Congress delegation and assured them that he would communicate their view point to the Chief Minister, besides he would take some quick measures to provide immediate relief to the people from this scorching heat.
The Divisional Commissioner said adequate field staff including junior engineers and assistant engineers would be deployed and if any transformer get damaged it will be replaced within 24 hours. “For booking complaints, a Call Centre will be opened shortly to ensure quick response to the people,” he said.
