Ishtiyaq Ahmad
Early Times Report
Srinagar, Oct 15: With the Kashmir valley heading towards winter, the Power Development Department has allegedly started unscheduled curtailment in almost all districts including Srinagar.
Even the metered areas are not being spared with the department going for power curtailment.
On Monday ET received many complaints from Srinagar city about the power curtailment. "We are facing regular power cuts for past one week even when the area is fully metered," said a resident of Bemina.
Mohmmad Aslam of Padshaibag said that the problem intensifies in the evening and the area is completely blacked out for several hours.
He said that every year PDD comes up with a same excuse of less generation and more demand. "Despite power tariff being raised so many times during past years, PDD has nothing to offer to its consumers except lame excuses," he added.
Norbag, Qamarwari people alleged that despite being a metered area, they are without round the clock power supply. The residents said the PDD officials had promised 24-hour power supply to the area while installing meters. "However, we are facing power cuts. This is sheer discrimination," the residents said.
In Chanapora, Batmaloo, Hyderpora, Rambagh, , people are also complaining about the unscheduled power cuts. "The power cuts have indicated that the winter would be harsh this winter," said Habib-ullah of, Hyderpora.
The situation is not different in north Kashmir's Baramullah district. The complaints are pouring in from this town, including old town Baramullah, and other areas. "Even the metered colonies like Kanlibagh, Friends Colony, Noorbagh are being subjected to long power cuts," people complained.
"In our area there is no schedule for load-shedding and it is up to PDD employees to curtail the power and they exercise the curtailment option frequently," said Asim Mustafa of Baramullah
Sopore people alleged that, the unscheduled power cuts are a norm.
The residents of Noorbagh, New Colony, Batpoora, Armpora, Khushal Mutu also complained about unprecedented power cuts.
However the power department denied the allegations.
"There are not such complaints, but yes people are resorting to theft and hooking. Even in posh colonies people resort to hooking creating problem in smooth supply of electricity," Chief Engineer PDD Kashmir told Early Times.
Meanwhile sources in power department said that the PDD is yet to formulate the new curtailment schedule and department is likely to implement the new schedule in the next month. |
