Why discrimination?

Sir,

An attempt to check, stop power theft was made by the Government of Jammu and Kashmir in the past by installing Electronic meters in the Posh Colonies in the city like Green Belt, Gandhi Nagar and Trikuta Nagar. After having successfully installed such meters in these areas the Power Development Department tried to instal such meters in other localities as well but they were forced to wind-up their installation work because of the resistance they had to face from the inhabitants of other localities. In some areas the PDD employees were manhandled and ultimately they decided to defer the installation of Electronic meters. This is a million dollar question as to why PDD is showing discrimination openly within Jammu city in different localities which are quite adjacent to each other. Does it mean that the people living in areas like Trikuta Nagar, Gandhi Nagar have surplus money and people in other areas are allowed freedom towards power theft. Now, if the people have agreed to put their A.C's and other appliances on the e-meters so that these could be used as per the need only but the Department is insisting for Rs. 6,000 in lumpsum or for change of load agreement.

We are therefore making an appeal to the PDD to reconsider their discriminative approach and allow people to use AC's and other appliances on the meters as per need without change in the agreement. This will save lot of power as the people will use AC's judiciously only as per the need or else after paying Rs. 6,000 they will keep AC's on even if these are not required or they are out of their home which with ultimately means wastage of power.

Yours etc...
S Kulber Singh
Sector V
Trikuta Nagar
Jammu

Slash fuel prices

Sir,

Refer news item 'No proposal yet to reduce fuel prices in J&K' Daily Excelsior June 14. One does not understand why the Congress led coalition Government has not reduced fuel prices when almost all the Congress ruled States slashed the oil prices marginally or wholly.

This has put the common man under heavy burden. He is yet to come to terms with the recent fare hike in the State. Further rise would undoubtedly cripple him. He has to shell out a hefty sum on transportation, besides facing the price rise in eatables. No substantial relief can be granted by foregoing the incremental Sales Tax as has been advocated by the Union Ministry for Petroleum. In this regard, the suggestion putforth by the Left parties is quite plausible. The Centre should do away with the Central Tax which it levies on oil. It may be mentioned here that Centre earns about Rs. 160 crores a day by levying excise and customs duty on oil. If prices are not reduced well in time, it may also hit the agriculture sector and the farmer community involved in it.

Your etc...
Pankaj Pandit
Talab Tillo
Jammu

GMC sarai

Sir,

This has reference to the news item regarding Government's intention to construct a sarai near Government Medical College Jammu.

The coming up of the proposed sarai will certainly meet the needs of the people who have been coming from far-flung areas of the State to seek better medicare facilities at Jammu. While staying at Jammu the attendants of the patients had to face various odds which include that of shelter and food. It would cost them dearly to go for private lodging and boarding facilities. As most of them could not bear the expenditure on these item, they would prefer to stay within premises of GMC in the open sky, bearing hostile weather both in summer and winter months. The demand for construction of the sarai was raised long time ago. Various deputations of people and NGO's met the concerned authorities time and again in this connection. These authorities were quite generous in making promises, but were quite miser in fulfilling them. The project got delayed and delayed. However, the efforts bore fruit recently when the Government found land near Chest Disease hospital for this project. The sarai will not only provide relief to the attendants, it will lessen the burden on GMC which is getting overcrowed with each passing day.

Yours etc...
R K Gandotra
Rehari Jammu