JCT Colony residents left high & dry as power, water crisis enters Day 6

Residents of JCT Phagwara Colony are facing hardships as they enter the sixth consecutive day without electricity and running water. The disruption stems from a long-standing payment dispute between the management of a local JCT Mill and the Electricity Department, leaving hundreds of families struggling to cope.

According to information, the mill’s management reportedly owes the electricity board approximately Rs 6 crore in unpaid dues. This debt had already led to a similar disconnection in January this year, when power connection was cut for around 22 days before being restored. On Monday, the supply was once again suspended.

Residents, including Brij Kishore, Deepak Kumar and Anmol, said they had been making repeated visits to the office of the Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) Jashanjit Singh and other officials to seek relief, but their appeals had gone unheard. “We are forced to spend the nights outside without light in this extreme heat,” a resident lamented, adding that they would be marking the Raksha Bandhan festival this year without electricity.

The absence of power has also severely affected water supply. The locals are fetching water from nearby areas, while the Municipal Corporation is sending water tankers to help the residents manage their daily needs. However, they insist these are temporary measures and have demanded an immediate resolution to the crisis.

Executive Engineer (XEN) Hardeep Singh confirmed that the supply had been disconnected due to non-payment of bills. “The electricity bill has not been cleared, which is why the supply was cut. I will be able to provide more details in the morning,” he said.

On Thursday, a delegation of residents met SDM Jashanjeet Singh to press for his urgent intervention. He said while the administration was arranging water for the colony, the matter of restoring electricity lied with the firm currently managing the mill’s affairs.

The case concerning the mill is under the jurisdiction of the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT), which has appointed an Insolvency Resolution Professional (IRP) to oversee its operations. Until the payment dispute is resolved through this process, the residents fear they may continue to endure prolonged blackouts and water shortages. For now, JCT Colony remains in darkness — both literally and figuratively — awaiting a resolution that seems mired in legal and financial complexities.