Meer Irfan
As another winter sets its food in Kashmir and the temperatures are dropping drastically in the region, the valley is witnessing frequent power cuts, like every year, which has caused widespread grief among the people.
The prevailing power crisis from down South to up north, including the rural and urban areas of Kashmir, has left people distraught.
Residents of the valley complain that they are paying hiked electricity charges, taxes and bills, yet the electricity they are receiving is minimal. “There has been no change in the electricity crisis in the valley. Though the administration claims to be making huge advances in electricity, the changes in electricity are hardly visible on the ground. Yes, the situation has gone from bad to worse,” Danish, a resident of Shopian told The Kashmiriyat.
An Anantnag resident spoke to The Kashmiriyat and said that the Power Development Department in the district has been promising that they are working on electric wires to be made underground so that the residents do not have to face cuts in winter. “Now we are suffering in summers and winters as well,” he told The Kashmiriyat.
Consumers of the Power Development Department say that with the onset of autumn, the power situation in Kashmir has taken a turn for the worse and students are facing the worst problems due to repeated power cuts as their exams are going these days.
Shahid, a resident of Srinagar’s Downtown area 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.
“The funniest part is that the power schedules are ‘secretly’ changed overnight and although loud claims are being made in local dailies, on the ground, every claim falls flat,” Shahid said
The public has expressed outrage against the power department and asked the administration and bureaucrats to fix the power crisis in the valley. “Jammu province shines with electricity in winter then why there is no electricity in the valley where it is needed in winter,” Auqib, a resident of Kulgam said.
When the digital meters were installed in the valley, the residents were promised 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, the locals complained.
The residents demanded immediate improvement in the power situation.