SUBHASH MISHRA
Dhanbad, April 27: Congress leaders of Dhanbad and Jamtara are on a boil over the prevailing power crisis in their districts.
While Jamtara Congress MLA Dr Irfan Ansari gheraoed the JBVNL office and sat on dharna in protest of the power crisis in his district, Dhanbad Congress president Brajendra Prasad Singh expressed concerns over the situation and asked the chief minister for immediate action for improvement.
Dr Ansari said that it is the responsibility of the government to provide power, and water and sort out the problem of the people. But the present crisis of power has made the life of common people hell. “Our government has come into power promising to provide power but the present condition is not good,” he said.
Jamtara MLA said that it was a well-calculated move to defame the state government. Jharkhand takes power from two agencies (DVC and NTPC) notwithstanding people are perished in lack of power supply. He lashed out at officials of JBVNL saying that for the Rs 2000 bill, they slap a fine of Rs 10,000 and disconnect the line.
After the telephonic assurance from JBVNL managing director KK Verma to supply a regular 40 MW per day, Dr Irfan Ansari lifted the dharna. At present Jamtara was given 20 MW against the requirement of 35 MW.
Meanwhile, the Dhanbad district Congress committee has also opened a front against the power crisis. District president Brajendra Prasad Singh said that a 14 to 15 hours power cut in the region has put normal life out of gear. Following power cuts, the water supply has also been affected badly.
“Not only common people, but even business activities in the district have also been paralyzed. All this crisis has appeared due to the careless attitude of JBVNL officers. It is nothing but a conspiracy to defame the government,” he charged.
He said that the district Congress committee demands from the state government to take solid steps for the solution of this crisis immediately so that people could get a proper supply of power and water.