Rescuing the Population of Jammu from the Dual Impact of Toll Plazas and Smart Meters
Jammu, 23-08-2023 : Colonel SS Pathania, President of the Sainik Samaj Party in Jammu and Kashmir, has conveyed a deep sense of distress and alarm regarding the pressing issues of toll plazas and smart meters that are being imposed upon the residents of the Jammu region. Colonel Pathania has raised his voice against the apparent failure of the Jammu Power Development Corporation (JPDCL) and the Power Development Department (PDD) in adequately address the numerous concerns of the local populace. These concerns encompass recurrent power outages, exorbitant billing, sudden power disconnections, and other related matters.
Of particular concern is the compulsory installation of smart meters, which is being enforced using the authority of the Union Territory. The method of smart meter installation has been marred by a lack of proper planning, leading to hazardous installations amidst tangled electrical wires. The potential fire hazard posed by this situation has been alarmingly disregarded. Evidently, the region is not yet prepared for the widespread adoption of smart meter technology, a fact highlighted by the fact that only five states and one Union Territory in India have embarked on such installations.
The Jammu region finds itself burdened with an unjust disparity, housing five toll plazas in contrast to the one present in the Kashmir region. This is a glaring example of preferential treatment towards the people of Kashmir, coupled with bias against the inhabitants of Jammu. The establishment of the Sarore toll plaza, in particular, flouts the established guideline of maintaining a minimum distance of 60 kilometers between two toll plazas.
Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari’s pronouncement in March 2022 promised the closure of all toll plazas violating distance norms within three months. Furthermore, Home Minister Amit Shah recently declared that the Lakhanpur toll plaza would remain closed until road improvements are made, as construction work for six-lane roads is already underway. In response to these developments, substantial protests have surged in the regions of Jammu, Samba, and Kathua, urging for the shutdown of the Sarore Plaza and the release of members from the Yuva Rajput Sabha, who were detained and placed in Samba’s Police line. These protests have led to confrontations with the police, including the use of baton charges and tear gas to disperse demonstrators, thereby obstructing the national highway.
Colonel Pathania has earnestly implored the Lieutenant Governor to exercise restraint, release the detained individuals, and temporarily close the Sarore Plaza until road conditions have been adequately improved. Mishandling the situation with incompetence and heavy-handedness could potentially escalate into a volatile scenario, an outcome that must be meticulously avoided at any cost.
