Mission Statehood protested against PHE and PDD

Jammu, July 5 (HS). Mission Statehood activists led by president Sunil Dimple along with a large number of women, children and elderly protested against the Public Health Engineering (PHE) and Power Development Department (PDD) over the shortage of drinking water and long power cuts. The protesters demanded free electricity and drinking water for the people of Jammu and Kashmir.

Addressing the gathering, Sunil Dimple accused the PDD and PHE of failing to provide regular supply of electricity and drinking water as well as charging exorbitant rates. He highlighted the poor condition of infrastructure including transformers, jumpers and Gladney grid. He said that many electrical appliances like fans, air conditioners and other household gadgets are getting damaged due to power fluctuations. He demanded return of power projects like Salal, Udi and Ratle to the state and called for waiver of power bills of poor families.

Urged Prime Minister Modi and LG Manoj Sinha to prioritise the power needs of Jammu and Kashmir instead of supplying power to other states. She criticised the privatisation of PDD of Jammu and Kashmir and the increased power cuts after the installation of smart meters. She also demanded immediate start of construction work on the Chenab Akhnoor Water Supply Project to address the water crisis in Jammu city. Dimple demanded 500 units of free electricity every month to the residents of Jammu and Kashmir and waiver of old electricity bills along with free drinking water.