Faizan Wani
Srinagar: As Secretariat offices were closed in Srinagar as part biannual Darbar move, the unscheduled power cuts ranging from five to six hours began to irk consumers in Kashmir, a week ahead of the authorities are likely to announce power curtailment schedule for the upcoming winters.
People across Kashmir including Srinagar complained that the authorities resort to pesky power cuts at a time when students are preparing for exams. Aggravated by hours long unscheduled power cuts, they said the authorities should at least wait for the students to finish their exams.
“World changed, but there is no improvement in power supply in Kashmir. Administration always makes promises of providing better supply to consumers in winters, but it seems that the dream of streamlining below par power supply in Kashmir will never be accomplished,” Tariq Ahmad, a consumer from Khanyar area of old city told.
He said the irksome power cuts which range from five to six hours have raised questions over tall claims of the government that Jammu and Kashmir would touch new heights of development after the special status under Article 370 which acts as a stumbling block is repealed.
“We face unscheduled power cuts ranging from five to six hours per day. How long we face this discrimination. Authorities resort to hours-long power cuts as soon as the Darbar offices are closed in Srinagar,” he added.
On the other hand, consumers in metered areas also complained about pesky power cuts ranging from four to five hours. They said the authorities instead of providing round the clock power supply to metered areas resorts to unscheduled power cuts sans any official schedule.
It may be in place to mention that Kashmir Power Distribution Corporation Limited (KPDCL) will be announcing a curtailment schedule for upcoming winters in a week.
However, the consumers questioned as to what makes the authorities to bring people on roads by annoying them with irksome hour’s long power cuts—(KNO)
