While addressing a press conference here today, Shri Ram Sena state president, Rajiv Mahajan said that there is no logic behind the appeal made by Chief Engineer as all people pay electricity rent as per meter reading. If any body uses Air Conditioner, he uses it through meter and pays for it. Mahajan blamed PDD for low voltage, unscheduled power cuts and power theft.

Mahajan demanded installation of meters at power distribution stations to check power consumed in a particular area. He said if revenue realization from that area is according to the meter reading at the station, then there should be no power curtailment in that area. And if the revenue realization from any particular area is less than the meter reading at the station, then PDD employees of the area should be made responsible, and check the power theft in that area. Increase in power load is no excuse as stated by Chief Engineer, said Mahajan.

Mahajan said the drama of Power Development department is beyond understanding. At one time they installed electronic meters to contain power theft, and now are asking people to increase power load.

Shri Ram Sena appeals the public of Jammu to stop paying bills of electricity till uninterrupted power supply is maintained. Mahajan further said the power consumption in Jammu is less than the power consumed in Kashmir and revenue realization is more than that from Kashmir. The people of Jammu are made to suffer due to power curtailment of about 10 hours a day in this scorching summer when the mercury has touched 44 degrees Celsius, while as the people in Kashmir enjoy uninterrupted power supply in the areas where electronic meters have been installed. In the pleasant summer in Valley there is no need of electricity except for light purpose.

Mahajan further said the state government has been inviting national and international companies to establish their units in Jammu to cope up with unemployment problem. Mahajan maintained that local industry, if at present, is in the doldrums due to the power scenario - then how will national and international companies will survive in this unpleasant atmosphere?