We’re supplied electricity just 3 to 4 hours a day, and are being sermonized by Govt to use it ‘judiciously’; Is this a joke? Ask consumers
The arbitrary and prolonged power cuts continue to increase people’s woes in Kashmir amid chilly winter despite repeated assurances by the Government to ensure better supply of electricity. Amid the deteriorating situation, anger is brewing among people in different parts of Kashmir who have threatened to hit roads in case the Government failed to improve the supply.
For the past few weeks the situation has gone worse with people expressing anguish against the erratic energy supply even as Power Development Department (PDD) Kashmir has been asking consumers for making judicious use of the electricity for better and dependable supply.
Following outrage over unscheduled power cuts in valley, post bi-annual durbar move in November, Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti, while chairing a meeting here on December 5 to review winter arrangements in Kashmir, expressed her dismay over reports of frequent and unscheduled cuts in power supply and asked the PDD to devise ways and means to ensure regulated supply of electricity during winter months.
But there has hardly been an improvement in the scenario with reports pouring in from rural Kashmir as well as townships and the summer capital Srinagar talking about the deteriorating power supply.
“Every year we are assured of better power supply but the situation worsens shortly after the seat of governance shifts to Jammu,” said Arslan Hussain of Bilal Colony Soura. “We barely get 3-4 hours of power supply and the authorities resort to power cuts as per their own wishes.”
Civil society group KCSDS has now asked the State Electricity Regulatory Commission (SERC) to intervene to provide relief to consumers.
“This erratic power supply is a breach of agreement by the PDD with consumers. The SERC should take note of these violations and direct consumers to pay only for the supplies they get rather than as per the agreement,” said civil society member Shakeel Qalander.
The KCSDS said it won’t desist from mobilizing public against the discrimination consumers are made to face.
As per the reports the power woes are equally growing in both metered and non-metered areas. “The department (PDD) hardly follows its schedule in our area and whenever we get the supply the quality (voltage) is extremely poor,” said Muhammad Yasin Rather of Zaffran Colony, Pantha Chowk. Similar complaints of very low voltage came in from Peerbagh, Srinagar.
Reports pouring in from other parts of summer capital Srinagar said that people have been complaining of prolonged and unscheduled power cuts.
“The department is not sticking to its own schedule to supply power,” said Muhammad Arif of Dalgate here.
The PDD on the other hand maintains that it continues to supply 1200-MW supply, almost double the load agreement of 650 MW with the consumers. “The consumers need to understand their responsibility for making judicious use of electricity especially during peak (evening) hours when the system witnesses maximum load,” said a senior PDD official adding the consumers need to come forward to desist from illegal use of power through different means like hooking.
Another official said the system might witness some improvement by the mid of the January next year as the department was likely to complete the process of augmentation of at least three grid stations in Kashmir.
However the erratic supply is now forcing people to come out of their houses to stage protests. Residents of many villages in north Kashmir’s Bandipora district including Plan, Nowpora, Muslim Abad, Kaloosa, Onagam, Watrin, Watapora, Qazipora, Panzigam and Putushai on Sunday told Kashmir Post that the PDD was resorting to massive power curtailments. “The department has failed to provide electricity as per new schedule, thereby making people face lot of inconvenience,” said Altaf Ahmad, a resident of Kaloosa.
He said that in 24 hours the department resorts to more than 15 hour curtailment. The villagers said that the irregular and prolonged power cuts have left the villages reeling under darkness and the department seems least bothered.
People in central Kashmir’s Ganderbal district have also been up in arms against the PDD for failing to provide them uninterrupted power supply. Locals alleged that despite housing three power projects, Ganderbal was seeing worst power crisis. Reports from different areas of Ganderbal including Ganderbal town, Lar, Kangan, Gund and other areas said that the unscheduled power cuts have grown giving tough time to people, especially during evening hours.
“It is shocking that instead of ensuring regular power supply the Power Development Department is resorting to erratic supply cuts,” said Fayaz Ahmed, a resident of Lar town.
Opposition National Conference today criticized Peoples Democratic Party-led Government for subjecting people across Kashmir to sufferings and ignoring Srinagar.
“The PDP led Government is deliberately punishing people of Srinagar for no fault of theirs and subjecting them to worst power crisis ever,” said NC’s Tanvir Sadiq in a statement. “There is no kerosene, no basic amenities, power situation is worst ever,” Tanvir said while interacting with people in the interiors of downtown Zadibal.
“While the PDP MLA and ministers are enjoying themselves in Jammu and elsewhere, people in Srinagar and all over Kashmir are left to fend for themselves,” said Sadiq. “The Chief Minister is totally oblivious to the suffering of people. If they are even a bit considerate towards people of Srinagar they should start 175 MW Pampore Gas Turbine immediately,” demanded Sadiq.
Asking people to use power “intelligently,” Chief Engineer MnRE Shahnaz Goni said the Department was trying its best to manage the system and not to put people to any inconvenience.
The Chief Engineer said the Department was going to augment four grid stations including Rawalpora and Kulgam grids in coming days which would help to improve the situation.
“If people cooperate to use the power intelligently the department assures to provide better supply of the electricity,” she said, adding the overloading of the grid stations was forcing the Department to go for cuts.
The Chief Engineer claimed that there was no complaint from Srinagar city. “We have been able to manage the city well,” she said.
The Department had also called the meeting of Superintending Engineers today to discuss “ways and means” to improve situation. We have also decided to snap power supply to cement factories and other industries from 8 pm to 10 pm to divert it for domestic use,” said the CE, adding the department was working on a re-arrangement program.
