JAMMU, July 14: A delegation of Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCI) Jammu on Wednesday met Rohit Kansal Principal Secretary Power Development Department (PDD) and highlighted the woes of industries and other businesses due to unprecedented power outage crisis and dwindling edifice of the department which stops working with first drop of the rain or touch of a passing breeze.
The delegation led by President CCI Jammu Arun Gupta raised number of issues concerning startling deficiencies in the functioning of the PDD. The delegation comprised of Sh. Anil Gupta Sr. Vice-President, Sh. Rajeev Gupta Jr. Vice-President, Sh. Gaurav Gupta Secretary General, Sh. Rajesh Gupta Secretary and Sh. Rajesh Gupta Treasurer.
The CCI President said that the unscheduled power cuts are in vogue these days which led to nightmarish experience for the residents of Jammu with business community facing the worst scenario. He said that the difficult mesh of conductors on PDD poles with no symmetry at all is posing a great risk to people and field staff as the same can lead to leakage of current in the poles besides giving an ugly look that is marring the beauty of the temple city which otherwise is gifted by God as the most beautiful city in the entire region. “One can say that the dream of PM Narendra Modi of making Jammu a smart city cannot be fulfilled unless the electricity cable lattice on poles will be sorted out with precision”, he said.
He demanded that persuasive steps are the need of the time to mitigate the power crisis in Jammu region. He said that Power Amnesty Scheme was announced when the COVID-19 was at its peak and businesses were shut on account of lockdowns and those who wanted to avail the benefits could not do the same due to cash crunch therefore government should extend the scheme to give one last chance to the defaulters to clear their dues without imposing any penalty or interest. He said that an amicable step in this direction will bring win-win situation for all. The CCI team also demanded that looking into the colossal losses which the traders have incurred due to uncertainty and closure of their shops for months together, the government should take a lenient view and give relief to this community by waiving off their electricity bills for the lockdown period as the same will help them to pick up the pieces and restart their livelihood afresh.
He also demanded to implement the clause meant for power tariff of HT industrial connections which offers industries to pay only 75 per cent of the contract demand.
He said that two grid station (100 MV each) have been installed at Bari Brahmana Industrial Area for industrial use but a proportion of power has been diverted to cater to needs of residents of Kartholi thus forcing PDD not to give fresh connections to industrialists on account of power dearth which is highly unjustified and should not be the case.
The CCI team also demanded that in case the last date for depositing of electricity bills comes on Sundays or holidays, the payment should be accepted by the banks on the next working day without charging any late fee. The CCI also highlighted the case of industrial units engaged in repair of transformers etc as their payment was pending for the last about 2 years. It was demanded that payment should be made timely. Besides, the CCI also reminded Principal Secretary PDD about the policy under which hotels were considered as industry in the UT. He said that it is unfortunate that government is not extending the benefit of industries to hotels as far as electricity bills are concerned therefore it is necessary that steps should be taken remove this unjust practice and hotels should also be taken under the ambit of schemes meant for industries.
After giving a patient hearing, the Principal Secretary PDD assured the CCI delegation of early redressal of genuine demands and asked the traders body to continue with such endeavours to keep the department abreast with the issues of business community of the region.
CCI team calls on Rohit Kansal; highlights power outage, deficiencies in PDD functioning
A delegation of Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCI) Jammu on Wednesday met Rohit Kansal Principal Secretary Power Development Department (PDD) and highlighted the woes of industries and other businesses due to unprecedented power outage crisis and dwindling edifice of the department which stops working with first drop of the rain or touch of a passing breeze.
The delegation led by President CCI Jammu Arun Gupta raised number of issues concerning startling deficiencies in the functioning of the PDD. The delegation comprised of Sh. Anil Gupta Sr. Vice-President, Sh. Rajeev Gupta Jr. Vice-President, Sh. Gaurav Gupta Secretary General, Sh. Rajesh Gupta Secretary and Sh. Rajesh Gupta Treasurer.
The CCI President said that the unscheduled power cuts are in vogue these days which led to nightmarish experience for the residents of Jammu with business community facing the worst scenario. He said that the difficult mesh of conductors on PDD poles with no symmetry at all is posing a great risk to people and field staff as the same can lead to leakage of current in the poles besides giving an ugly look that is marring the beauty of the temple city which otherwise is gifted by God as the most beautiful city in the entire region. “One can say that the dream of PM Narendra Modi of making Jammu a smart city cannot be fulfilled unless the electricity cable lattice on poles will be sorted out with precision”, he said.
He demanded that persuasive steps are the need of the time to mitigate the power crisis in Jammu region. He said that Power Amnesty Scheme was announced when the COVID-19 was at its peak and businesses were shut on account of lockdowns and those who wanted to avail the benefits could not do the same due to cash crunch therefore government should extend the scheme to give one last chance to the defaulters to clear their dues without imposing any penalty or interest. He said that an amicable step in this direction will bring win-win situation for all. The CCI team also demanded that looking into the colossal losses which the traders have incurred due to uncertainty and closure of their shops for months together, the government should take a lenient view and give relief to this community by waiving off their electricity bills for the lockdown period as the same will help them to pick up the pieces and restart their livelihood afresh.
He also demanded to implement the clause meant for power tariff of HT industrial connections which offers industries to pay only 75 per cent of the contract demand.
He said that two grid station (100 MV each) have been installed at Bari Brahmana Industrial Area for industrial use but a proportion of power has been diverted to cater to needs of residents of Kartholi thus forcing PDD not to give fresh connections to industrialists on account of power dearth which is highly unjustified and should not be the case.
The CCI team also demanded that in case the last date for depositing of electricity bills comes on Sundays or holidays, the payment should be accepted by the banks on the next working day without charging any late fee. The CCI also highlighted the case of industrial units engaged in repair of transformers etc as their payment was pending for the last about 2 years. It was demanded that payment should be made timely. Besides, the CCI also reminded Principal Secretary PDD about the policy under which hotels were considered as industry in the UT. He said that it is unfortunate that government is not extending the benefit of industries to hotels as far as electricity bills are concerned therefore it is necessary that steps should be taken remove this unjust practice and hotels should also be taken under the ambit of schemes meant for industries.
After giving a patient hearing, the Principal Secretary PDD assured the CCI delegation of early redressal of genuine demands and asked the traders body to continue with such endeavours to keep the department abreast with the issues of business community of the region.
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