Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, July 18: Acute power crisis coupled with sweltering summer heat and humid temperature has made the life of people miserable in Jammu these days.
Contrarily to the expectations of the people the Monsoon also turned dry during the first fortnight in Jammu and there were no heavy showers of rain as was expected by people to beat the Summer heat adding to their woes further.
Despite the announcement of Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah last month who also holds the portfolio of Power that electricity supply for Jammu will be increased to meet the needs of the people in the Summer, there has been no improvement in power supply in Jammu region and people continue to face long duration power cuts.
The increasing power cuts and frequent interruptions has led public outcry and people resorted to demonstrations, road blocks and protests in different parts of the city and its outskirts today.
The power remained cut off for hours together in old city and other areas forcing the people to come to streets and protest against the Government at Shaheedi Chowk, Purani Mandi, Ambphalla and Talab Tillo. Raising anti Government slogans the people demanded immediate restoration of power supply.
The authorities said that the power supply remained disrupted in various parts of the city today due to fault in the Grid at Canal Power House and the same will be resumed after restoration of the fault by the evening.
But the protestors allege that they have been constantly facing the problem since May this year after the Secretariat moved to Summer Capital and the assurances of Chief Minister last time that power supply will be improved has not been fulfilled.
The miseries of the people increased due to dry spell of Monsoon also and people have to rely on rain gods for the same as there are no chances of heavy rainfall for next two days according to the authorities in Metrological Department.
A spokesman of the Department said that delay in Monsoon rains has been due to shifting of Monsoon Turf towards North position to foothills of Himalayas. And once the Turf will come into normal position i.e Allahbad, Ganga Nagar and Calcutta range there will be heavy rainfall in Jammu and surrounding areas. It will take two days for Monsoon to come into its normal position, spokesman added.
When contacted the MoS Power Shabir Ahmed Khan said that the problem will be solved soon as the Government is on the job. The supply has been improved for Jammu as the Chief Minister gave instructions for the same in a high level meeting last time. But the problem has occurred due to overloading of the system.
He said the Department is trying to improve the capacity and the problem is being faced during the peak hours only.
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