SHAKEELA ANDRABI
SRINAGAR: Kashmir Valley is under the grip of severe cold wave from past 20 days and the temperature hits sub-zero levels in Kashmir continuously, power crisis has further deepened notwithstanding the ‘curtailment schedule’ which Jammu & Kashmir Power Distribution Corporation Limited (JKPDCL) had recently issued, showing 31-hour to 56-hour per week power curtailment. Days after people received their revised monthly bills, with a hike of 8 to more than 22 per cent from October onwards. The curtailment schedule is being grossly violated by JKPDCL as people shiver, in absence of heating appliances and running hot water amid the bone-chilling cold. However, reports from across Kashmir informed that situation has gone even worse after the curtailment schedule was issued, in metered as well as non-metered areas of the valley.”They have made a mockery of the curtailment schedule. They supply the electricity in 15-minute streaks even during the time wherein we are supposed to get uninterrupted power supply,” local residents, told STATE TIMES. Several media houses received similar complaints from parts of the summer capital Srinagar as well as other districts in south Kashmir and many areas in north Kashmir. People complained that they have never seen such a dire power crisis in Kashmir.
“This is unprecedented. We have seen extreme load shedding during the winter season, but this season beats all the previous records. And the insult to the injury is the attitude of the PDD administration; they act as if they are supplying non-stop power supply,” a resident of Srinagar told People lamented that the administration has escalated power tariffs in unmetered areas, despite the pathetic state of the power scenario. “And then they have the audacity to blame the general public for using heating appliances. Where is the electricity to use the appliances? And even if we do, don’t we pay for it?” a resident of south Kashmir said.
Earlier this month, power consumers received inflated power bills after the Joint Electricity Regulatory Commission (JERC) of Jammu and Kashmir approved an 8 to 22 per cent hike in domestic, industrial, commercial and agriculture power tariffs across the union territory. Chief Engineer JKPDCL, had recently told, “We will be able to stabilise power supply, but cannot say the scenario will get better. The scenario will remain as it has been during winters in previous years,” he added but JKPDCL has failed on this front as well.
