JAMMU, Jun 24: Mission Statehood Jammu and Kashmir president Sunil Dimple on Tuesday led a strong protest rally on Janipur High Court Road against unscheduled power cuts, the proposed installation of prepaid smart meters, and the failure to replace damaged transformers in several areas of Jammu city.
A large number of supporters and local residents participated in the demonstration, raising slogans against the Jammu and Kashmir Power Development Department (JKPDCL) and demanding immediate improvement in electricity and water supply services.
Addressing the protesters, Dimple alleged that despite 100 percent metering in many localities, residents continue to face prolonged and unscheduled power curtailments, especially during the ongoing heatwave. He said people across Jammu city are enduring sleepless nights due to frequent outages amid soaring temperatures.
Dimple also claimed that several wards are suffering because damaged and low-capacity transformers have not been replaced, resulting in an unreliable power supply. He further alleged that many consumers are receiving inflated electricity bills amounting to thousands and even lakhs of rupees, placing an unbearable financial burden on economically weaker families.
Opposing the introduction of prepaid smart meters, Dimple said poor households would find it difficult to pay electricity charges in advance. He demanded that the government immediately halt the rollout of prepaid metering and provide 200 units of free electricity to consumers.
The Mission Statehood leader also called upon the Union Government to return the Salal, Uri and Ratle hydroelectric power projects to Jammu and Kashmir and sought payment of royalty to the Union Territory for electricity supplied to other states. Additionally, he demanded free drinking water for the people of Jammu and Kashmir, alleging acute water scarcity in several parts of Jammu city.
Warning of intensified agitation, Dimple said a mass movement would be launched if unscheduled power cuts are not stopped and public grievances are not addressed promptly.
Among those present were Dev Raj, Ram Kumar Das, Mukesh Gupta, Vipan Gupta, Rakesh Sharma, Vicky Gupta, Bramu Sharma, Akbar Khan, Mohammad Shafi, Nasir, Nazir Khan, Sudershan Sharma and others.