Mohd Irfan
As Jammu and Kashmir Power Distribution Corporation Limited (JKPDCL) has apprised the consumers through the lineman in some areas reportedly about the shifting of electricity post-paid to Pre-paid mode from the month of July so that consumers acquainted with the new mode.
Voices gaining momentum in regards to new mode pre-paid. As the consumers saying this pre-paid mode will make the electricity much costly for the reason that as the recharge get exhausted then the electricity get off. JPDCL has not issued any such information in the print and electronic media in respect of the recharge so that masses could be well acquainted to that, scores of consumers said.
“What Necessitated the central government Ministry to go for the New pre-paid mode when the consumers in Jammu paying the tariffs as per their usage of the Electricity”, said, one of the consumer while seething with anger and simmering with discontent as to why the central government putting additional burden on the common men as already they are facing brunt of the sky rocketing prices of essential commodities.
“UT which is rich in electricity but given the new directive of the government of shifting to pre-paid] mode this have haunted the Jammuities about their arbitrary move”, he maintained. Another consumer Rohit, a local lamented that lineman told him to recharge the electricity adding, in order to continue the usage of the electricity to which he said is totally unwarranted as what type of directive this government have issued which have left the consumers high and dry. I have condemned the move of the government unequivocally in bold and clear cut terms”, he asserted. “This recharge of electricity by the consumers would be death knell for them in this UT of Jammu and Kashmir as the people are not much affluent barring some elite sections of the society as such government should not resorted to such oppressive move which would make the life of consumers miserable”, another consumer Shweta rued while urging the government to revisit such directive which brews resentment amongst them. Sooner the government revoke such an order better it would be in the interest of the public at large.
“With the installation of Smart meters pilferage in the electricity has minimized to a greater extent and the consumers are paying the tariff as per the bills barring some defaulters. Now, this sudden move of the government of switching to pre-paid mode electricity connection would drilled hole in their pockets as such government should at any cost revoke such directive before it’s too late”, one of the advocate Parshotam added.
One of the consumer taking a dig against the opposition parties for maintained criminal silence over this contentious issue which is affecting the common men to the core. The moot question is that why the Opposition parties not resented such move of the government which has put the burden on the masses. After all this recharge of electricity will put the masses to shell out much money. “This government boast claims of “ache din aayenge” for the masses but this move of the government is ultimately not much ache din at all” Said, a local teacher wishing anonymity and asked the government to not force the consumers to resorted to pre-paid mode installation which is in vogue in Delhi and other metropolitan cities. Its an irony that erstwhile state which used to send electricity to outside states and in turn get revenue from it. But now, this government resorted to pre-paid mode which is not at all feasible for the Jammuities”, she regretted. It is pertinent to mention here in that KPDCL has issued a directive to about 57,000 consumers to port their post-paid meters to pre-paid mode or else face action. One of the official on the condition of anonymity divulged that consumers need to port their post-paid electricity connections to pre-paid mode meaning thereby consumers have to do recharge. To a query that there is resentment amongst the consumers of resorting to pre-paid mode, official said this is the directive of the Union power ministry to resort to pre-paid mode and department have to comply with. Even across country union power ministry set a deadline of converting all power connections to pre-pay till 2025”, he maintained. Asked don’t you think that pre-paid mode of electricity would be much costly than post-paid mode, in this pre-paid mode consumers have to recharge their electricity. Rather they being given grace period in case they failed to do the recharge”, he asserted.
