Jammu- Army was deployed at various power stations in Jammu division on Sunday after authorities failed to reach an amicable agreement with thousands of striking employees of the Power Development Department (PDD).
Divisional Commissioner Jammu had earlier in the day requisitioned the assistance of the army to man electric installations/supplies in Jammu division.
For the last 24 hours, almost the entire Jammu city and the rural areas have remained plunged into darkness as the striking employees of the PDD refuse to man duties until the government reverses its decision to privatise the power sector in the UT.
After the daylong discussions with the representatives of the striking employees failed to persuade them to return to their duties, the administration on Sunday evening requisitioned the army to man electric power supply in the Jammu division.
In a letter to the Defence Ministry, Divisional Commissioner, Jammu, Raghav Langer wrote: “It is to bring to your kind notice that due to strike by electric department personnel in the UT of J&K, essential services have been severely affected in the Jammu region.
“We would like to hereby requisition the Indian army to assist in the restoration of the said essential services by provisioning manpower to man critical electricity stations and water supply sources.”
Many areas across Kashmir and Jammu witnessed power outages and during the night-hours, there was a blackout in nearly 50 per cent of areas across J&K.
As a result people are facing tremendous hardships due to non-availability of electricity and water supply, leading to protests by angry residents who are reeling under severe cold wave conditions.
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