Diplomat Correspondent
Ramgarh, (DD): Farmers and residents of the Ramgarh area gathered today to submit a memorandum to the Chief Minister of Jammu & Kashmir through the district administration, raising concerns over several pressing issues affecting their livelihoods and daily lives. The Border Kissan Union, which organized the gathering, highlighted grievances related to electricity billing, smart meter faults, and irrigation problems, as well as land rights concerns for displaced persons along the Indo-Pak border.
One of the primary issues raised was the excessive and inaccurate electricity bills being charged to both domestic users and farmers using agricultural pump sets. The union pointed out that many of these pump sets are seasonal, remaining unused for more than eight months a year, yet residents are still being charged high rates.
Further concerns were raised regarding the installation of smart meters, which have been described as defective. The meters are reportedly failing to function correctly, particularly in terms of their speed and accuracy. Residents highlighted that the low voltage in the area, due to overloaded grids and distant receiving stations, has caused the meters to display incorrect readings. The union is calling for a resolution of these voltage issues before imposing any further billing.
Despite government commitments to provide 24-hour electricity in areas where smart meters are installed, the residents are still facing unscheduled power cuts. This has severely disrupted daily life and agricultural activities in the region, leaving residents frustrated with the inconsistency of power supply.
Another major concern highlighted in the memorandum is the prolonged failure of a 50 MVA transformer at the Lalyana grid station, which has been out of service for over two months. This has caused severe power shortages in the region, with the union demanding that the new transformer, which was sanctioned for installation by end of 2024, be installed immediately. The union has proposed that the new transformer be set up on the foundation of the damaged transformer to restore power supply without further delay.
The union also raised concerns over the poor maintenance of irrigation canals in the area. They criticized the lack of proper desilting, which has hindered water supply to many agricultural fields. The union claimed that the desilting efforts have been biased, benefiting a select few, and demanded that all canals, including sub-distributaries, be properly desilted to ensure water reaches the tail-end farmers.
The memorandum also drew attention to the land rights of displaced persons from the 1965 and 1971 conflicts. These individuals, who were allotted land along the Indo-Pak border by previous governments, have been denied occupancy rights under the Agrarian Reforms Act 1976. The union called for these rights to be extended to all displaced persons, including those from the 1965 and 1971 waves, who have been deprived of compensation when their land is affected by mining, fencing, or defense schemes.
Lastly, the union highlighted the exclusion of certain villages within the border belt, such as Chak Slarian, Gudwal B, and Chhajjwal Panchayats, from the reservation benefits granted to border areas. The union has urged the government to reconsider its stance and include these villages in the reservation scheme, ensuring equitable development for all border communities.
The Border Kissan Union has urged the Chief Minister and relevant authorities to address these pressing issues without further delay. The union emphasized that the region’s electricity infrastructure, irrigation systems, and land rights need urgent attention to ensure the welfare of the border population.
The memorandum was submitted by several prominent members of the union, including Mohan Singh Bhatti (President), Ravinder Choudhary, Arjan Singh, Capt Jasbir Singh, Balbir Singh, Balwant Choudhary, Gurcharan Singh, Gharjeet, Rashpal Singh, Harbans Singh, Avtar Singh, and others.
The union has expressed hope that the government will take prompt action to resolve these long-standing issues and ensure the region’s socio-economic development.(DD)
