Srinagar Dec 20: Amid the ongoing Jammu and Kashmir power employees strike, the UT government on Monday claimed to have restored the power supply in 60% of the affected areas saying a 100 percent restoration will be done by tomorrow.
Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha in a statement said that talks have been held with the protesting employees adding that “as on date no dues/salary are pending on part of the government”.
Over the criticism by J&K political parties of the J&K government calling in Army to restore electricity, LG Sinha said, ” Personnel from REC, NTPC NHPC, and officers from the army engineering corps have also come. This only shows our commitment that we restored 60% electricity yesterday and by tomorrow we will achieve 100% restoration”.
“There can be no compromise on the issue of ensuring access to the basic amenities to our people”.
As per LG Sinha, while “tremendous work has been done across the Power sector in the whole country; rural areas are now getting electricity for 20-22 hours, unfortunately, J&K is still deprived of that”.
“We have made efforts in that direction. Most of you know our cumulative generation capacity is around 3500MW even though the UT has the potential to generate 20000 MW. In the last 6-8 months, the MoUs we have signed with NHPC, under the guidance of Hon’ble Prime Minister, will pave way for generating 3500MW additional power in the next 4-5 years, assuredly, ” he said
“There is no dearth of electricity in the country but the UT’s transmission and distribution systems have a limited capacity of carrying electricity from outside. We have worked in that direction and have been able to achieve 40% of that specific capacity building plan, ” added the LG.
“If some people think that the system will work as per their whims and fancies, it cannot be allowed. The system will work for 1.25 crore citizens without any discrimination. Every step of the UT administration is meant for the betterment of 1.25 crore citizens of Jammu and Kashmir”.