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| Valley reeling under traditional electric power crisis | | |
Early Times Report
Srinagar, Nov 12 : Even before the winter enters its coldest phase in the Valley people are already complaining of the vanishing electric supply. The metered areas are not any better off as scheduled and unscheduled power curtailments occur in both metered and non-metered areas.
The crisis has been made worse because of the LPG crisis and the non-availability of kerosene oil both in Srinagar city and other parts of the Valley. The electric department authorities have been blaming the consumers and the consumers have been blaming the electricity department, but despite the accusations and counter accusations the situation does not get any better.
Millions and millions have been spent on power generation projects in the past and the expenditure has been multiplying with each passing year. The state government claims it has been incurring huge losses on account of electric power imports from the Northern Grid while its own generation gets impeded because of low discharge in the rivers during the winter months. Most of those who should know better than the common man have been wondering on the wisdom of the state government when it comes to electric power management. The practice of blaming the people for its failures has been the hallmark of the state government. When the government blames the consumers for electric power pilferages it is never prepared to accept the fact that such pilferages are not possible without the connivance and the guidance of the employees of the electric department at the ground level.
Given the huge transmission losses for which the authorities cannot technically blame the consumers it is evident that this crucial sector of state's economy has been abused through the years. There is no denying the fact that electric power is the backbone of all industrial activity in any state. Without adequate and sufficient electric power it is not possible to even think of a viable industrial sector in the state. One of the major reasons for the absence of industries in the Valley is the non-availability of regular and sufficient electric supply. Believing that the industrial sector would pick up and become viable in the state without adequate and sufficient electric power would be expecting too much. Even after 65 years of independence the state has been year after year reeling under an electric power crisis that shows no signs of abating. It is tragic that those at the helm of affairs in the state should blame the poor consumers for the short-sighted planning of the government. As more and more areas in the Valley come under darkness due to electric power failure, the common man cannot help wonder when would his miseries come to an end finally. |
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