Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, July 15: Deepening power crisis have taken a critical turn with people in various parts of Jammu and Samba districts coming to streets in protest and blocking movement of vehicular traffic by staging dharnas and demonstrations on roads sides.
The residents of Randhwa Colony, Vijaypur in Samba district took to streets and blocked the Samba Ramgarh road in protest against the failure of the PDD authorities to restore the power supply to the area which was snapped five days back due to damage of local transformer.
A large number of irate people of the area including men, women and children came to streets and staged a demonstration against the PDD. The protestors shouting slogans held the PDD responsible for power crisis in the area saying in last five days it failed to restore the power supply in the locality.
The protestors said that people of the area were facing worst problems in this hot and humid Summer and with the snapping of the power supply they were passing sleepless nights for days together. The position of old, infirm and children is worst as they can’t resist the scorching heat.
The protestors accused the PDD authorities of not replacing the transformer despite many pleas to concerned authorities and warned to intensify agitation in case the transformer was not installed immediately. The protestors also accused the local MLA of not taking any steps in solving the problem.
Former Minister Manjit Singh and JKNPP leader Rajesh Padgotra also addressed the protestors. Later SHO Vijaypur and some officers including AEE Vijaypur visited the site of protest and assured the people that transformer will be installed by the evening. On this assurance people lifted the road blockade.
Meanwhile, Manjit Singh warned the PDD that in case they failed to solve the power problem in Vijaypur the people will be forced to hold massive agitation.
Another demonstration was held by BJYM activists at Krishna Nagar and the protestors blocked the Canal road for one hour. The protestors accused PDD authorities for their failure in installing a transformer in the area. The protest was led by Deepak Raj Pandey BJYM activist who along with other activists gathered at canal road and blocked the vehicular traffic near Science College. Raising slogans against PDD the protestors demanded installation of new transformer. They alleged that for the last four days the people have been facing problem of power and water crisis and the concerned departments have failed to come to their rescue.
Mr Pandey said that the NC led coalition was ignoring the areas where the people in large numbers voted in favour of BJP in just concluded Lok Sabha elections. To pacify the agitators SHO Nawabad Inspector Satinder Singh reached the spot and convinced the people to lift the road blockade. He accompanied some activists to Executive Engineer PDD and officials assured the restoration of power in the area within two hours.
Akhnoor road was also blocked at Barnai by irate people who were protesting against the power failure in the area due to breakdown of the transformer. The protestors led by a local Sarpanch shouted slogans against the PDD. However after the intervention of SHO Domana and other officers that the transformer will be installed by the evening, people lifted the road blockade. Later the transformer was installed in the area in the evening.
Meanwhile BJP leader and convener Industries Cell Vikram Randhawa today accused the PDD for the prevailing power crisis. He also alleged that the local Ministers form Jammu have never bothered to look into the problem and take steps for bettering the power supply in Summer season. He said the statements given by the Ministers are just an eye wash as people continue to face power cuts.
Durga Nagar Welfare Committee has also expressed grave concern over the power crisis, low voltage and fluctuation of the power in the area.
The Committee president R L Raina and general secretary M L Pandita have urged the PDD to install power transformers as per the load so that the people are relieved of low voltage, tripping and fluctuation in the area.
Follow our WhatsApp channel