J & K government rules out power subsidy to Jagti migrant township

JAMMU: The Jammu and Kashmir government today ruled out the possibility of any subsidy in power rates to the Jagti township, developed to rehabilitate Kashmiri migrants.

"Power Development Department (PDD) is not in a position to subsidise the power supply to Jagti Township", Special Secretary, General Administrative Department (GAD), G S Chib said.

The state government has set up a five-member committee to ensure that projects related to meter installation and consumer agreements in the township are completed at the earliest, Chib said.

The committee includes District Commissioner (DC) Jammu, Relief Commissioner J-K, Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Jammu, Superintendent Engineer and Representative of migrants.

Chib said it is imperative that full metering of Jagti Township including high tension and formalities by the consumers should be completed at the earliest.

As the consumers are yet to sign a legal agreement with the Power Development Department (PDD), electricity bills to the township for power supply of 84.48 lakh unit consumed between April 2011 to December 2011 are yet to be settled, he said.

Kashmiri migrants have been demanding free power supply to the township and during the past few months they have held several round of protests and demonstrations.