26-07-2024 : Today, members of the Kalki Movement held an important meeting with Mr. Vikas Kundal, the Managing Director of the Jammu and Kashmir Power Development Corporation Limited (JKPDCL). The purpose of this meeting was to highlight the issues arising from frequent power cuts in both urban and rural areas. Citizens are facing numerous difficulties due to these power outages. We would like to draw your attention to the following key points:
1. Difficulties for Amarnath Pilgrims:* Frequent power cuts at night are causing severe inconvenience to Amarnath pilgrims staying in Jammu. Hotel owners are unable to provide air conditioning facilities through generators, adversely affecting the city’s image.
2. Power Cuts in Schools:* Schools have reopened on the 18th, but frequent power cuts are disrupting students’ studies. The heat and lack of electricity are causing significant discomfort to the children.
3. Problems in Areas with Smart Meters:* The power department had assured 24-hour power supply in areas with smart meters, but regular power cuts are still occurring in these regions.
4. Common Public Issues:* Power cuts are affecting the daily activities of city residents. Work, household chores, and other daily tasks are being disrupted. Despite meter replacements and technical improvements, the situation has not improved.
5. Farmers’ Problems:* Power cuts are making it difficult for farmers to operate tube wells and motors, resulting in agricultural losses. They are facing significant challenges, especially during the paddy planting season.
6. Smart Meter Billing Issues:* Despite the installation of smart meters, accurate billing is not being done. For example, those who previously received a bill of Rs. 1000 are now being billed Rs. 3000, and those who received Rs. 3000 are now being billed Rs. 9000.
7. Company Bagh Issue:* Whenever there is a power cut, the tube wells in Company Bagh stop working, leading to water supply issues. The reason given is the power outage, which prevents water boring and lifting. This affects the Parade Ground and subsequently the rest of the city. The Kalki Movement has demanded that a heavy transformer or generator be installed in Company Bagh to ensure continuous water supply even during power cuts.
8. DT Metering Work in the Old City:* In the old city, DT metering work is ongoing during the summer, causing power cuts every hour. Local residents and traders are suffering due to this. The Kalki Movement highlighted this issue and demanded that this work be postponed to the winter season to avoid power cuts during the summer.
The core committee and board members of the Kalki Movement, including Senior Pritam Sharma, Sunny Kant Chib, Chandan Gupta, Vikram Mahajan, Kushal Sharma, Sanjeev Kumar Dubey, Lucky Manhas, and other members, were present at the meeting.
