Amidst of the shivering cold, as winter approached the Kashmir valley, many areas are enveloped in darkness as frequent power cuts like every year have caused widespread grief among the people against the prevailing power crisis.
The deteriorating power situation in south, north and central Kashmir which includes the urban and rural localities, has left people distraught.
Consumers said that with the onset of autumn, the power situation has taken a turn for the worse and students are facing the biggest problems due to repeated power cuts as their exams are going these days.
Even though they are paying electricity fees regularly, the situation is not changing and the locals are anguished. people claimed that power employees only appear at the time of collection of fees and later disappear as there is no schedule of electricity in the valley.
Consumers said that power schedules are secretly changed overnight and although loud claims are made in local dailies but not implemented on the ground, consumers are fed up with frequent unavailability of power supply.
They have come to the conclusion that it would be better if there was no electricity. They added that despite sit-ins and protests, the officials of the department were not being affected and the problems of the consumers were increasing day by day.
A similar situation was witnessed in North Kashmir: Karnah, Tangdhar, Machel, Sogam, Kupwara, Lolab, Trehgam, Lalpura, Handwara, Ramhal, Rajwar, Chak, Wadipora, Vader Bala, Wader Payeen, Sonmarg, Khani, Kakrosa, Darshpura, Qaziabad, Rafiabad, Baramulla, Sopore, Uri, Pattan, and other areas also have no power supply in the evening due to which consumers have to deal with difficulties.
On this situation, the public has expressed outrage against the power department and asked the government that with the onset of winter, the government and bureaucrats are camping in Jammu and the people of the valley are left stranded. Consumers say the valley’s electricity illuminates the entire country, but electricity itself is not available here in the winter.
People added that if Jammu province shines with electricity in winter then why there is no electricity in the valley where it is needed in winter.
Consumers added that when the meters were installed, there was a promise that there would be no unnecessary cuts in power supply and consumers would be provided 24 hours power but that promise also proved to be a mirage on the ground.
They demanded immediate improvement in the power situation and warned that if the situation continued, a protest campaign would be launched against the department across the valley, for which the entire responsibility lies with the PDD department. (CNS)