Srinagar, Sep 22 (KNO): AAP MLA Mehraj Malik on Tuesday raised issues related to electricity, water supply and development works in his Doda constituency in the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly, while also triggering noisy scenes after being denied permission to raise a supplementary question.
The issue arose when Malik sought to raise a supplementary question on the amnesty granted on electricity bills. Speaker Abdul Rahim Rather did not allow him to do so and asked him to return to his seat.
Objecting to the decision, Malik, according to news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), shouted in the House, "Assembly is not anybody's jageer (estate)."
As Malik continued his protest, the Speaker warned him to "behave properly" or face action. Rather later clarified that a committee had decided that supplementary questions could be raised only by members who had asked the primary question.
"This member (Malik) did not behave properly. I resisted a lot, otherwise I would have taught him a lesson. He doesn't know how to behave in the House," the Speaker said.
During his intervention, Malik also raised concerns over electricity billing in several areas of his constituency, alleging that bills were being generated without meter readings.
"Till date, the meter has not been read. Electricity has not even come to the area, but the electricity bill has been generated," he said.
He alleged that residents were being burdened with electricity bills and said some had paid around Rs 60,000 towards electricity-related charges.
On water supply, Malik said residents had been waiting nearly two years for connections despite pipelines being located nearby.
"What crime have my people committed that for two years the pipe connection has not been provided, whether it is 10 metres away or 100 metres away? This is shameful," he said.
He alleged that an officer and a contractor were creating difficulties for residents and urged the government to intervene.
Malik also questioned the execution of development works, alleging that engineers repeatedly prepared estimates at higher amounts while contractors later took up the work for significantly lower sums.
“For the past two years, engineers have been preparing estimates of Rs 1 lakh, and the contractor in our village takes up the work for Rs 50,000,” he said.
He sought details of tenders issued against such estimates and questioned accountability for the execution and quality of the works.
"Water should be provided first," Malik said, urging the government to address the grievances of people in his constituency on priority—(KNO)