Jammu faces worst power crisis; CCI ask hoteliers not to pay bills

Jammu, May 17: The consumers on Thursday staged protest against the state government at different parts of Jammu over unscheduled power cuts here.

The unscheduled power cuts have made life miserable for people in Jammu city in view of scorching heat and soaring temperature. People raised anti-government slogans and also burnt effigies of BJP ministers during the protest.

The protestors said that the state government has failed in providing basic amenities to the people despite big promises made by them.

“The temperature is rising in Jammu and hovering between 37 to 40 degrees but the long hours power cuts have affected our daily routine,” a protestor said.

They also said that students are preparing for various entrance examinations but due to electricity shortage, they are unable to continue with studies.

Meanwhile, the Chamber of Commerce and Industries (CCI), Jammu has reviewed the non implementation of budget announcement regarding charging of Industrial Electricity Tariff from the hotels across the state.

CCI president Rakesh Gupta has advised all the Hotel owners not to pay electricity bills raised by the power development department (PDD) for the month of April 2018 in contravention of the budget announcement.

The Chamber also sent out an urgent communication to the Finance Minister Sayed Mohd. Altaf Bukhari asserting that the electricity tariff to be charged from the Hotels across the state shall be at the same cost as being billed to the industries.

“We would like to submit that the PDD has already raised the bills to the hotels for the month of April 2018, but the Jammu Chamber of Commerce and Industry is going to advise all the hoteliers not to make payments against such bills received as per non industrial electric tariff,” read the communiqué.