Jammu: Hitting out at the ruling PDP-BJP Government in the State, senior Congress leader on Tuesday accused the Coalition partners of callousness in providing basic facilities like potable water, unscheduled power cuts and proper ration to the people of Jammu region.
“The water shortage is unprecedented, which speaks of callousness of the government towards residents. They seem to have been held to ransom by the insensitive, irresponsible and anti-people government. It is deliberately denying them basic facilities,” former Minister and senior Congress leader Raman Bhalla said while joining the protest launched by the people of Bhour Camp area against the shortage of water supply.
The agitating residents alleged that their elected representatives are not available to listen to their grievances.
“The people of this area are facing acute shortage of water for the last more than nine month and concerned MLA and the concerned PHE staff failed to mitigate the sufferings of the people,” Bhalla said. He also pointed out that unprecedented power and water crisis in the whole State in general and Jammu province in particular was result of the failure on the part of present government. He said that situation in Jammu province has virtually turned out of control due to severe shortage of drinking water and worst ever power crisis during scorching heat.
“Not only the public, the industrialists are also facing works kind of power crisis here. For hours together, the forced shut down is being imposed on the consumers which are torturous during this peak scorching hot summer days,” Bhalla said.
Bhalla in presence of huge gathering telephonically put the matter before Chief Engineer and asked him to address the drinking water issue at the earliest.
Taking cognizance of the issue and after the intervention of former Minister, Chief Engineer assured him that within week time the issue will be sorted out on priority.
Among those present on the occasion include Amrit Bali Sarpanch Bhour Camp, Jagmohan Sharma Naib Sarpanch, Bal Krishan, Rishab Bali, Panch Dr. Ramesh Sharma, Baldev Singh, Gurbachan Kour, Jai Ram Sharma, Master Khushi Ram, Harpal Singh and Kapoor Lal Ward President Bhour Camp.