STATE TIMES NEWS
JAMMU/SRINAGAR: Agitated over unscheduled and frequent power cuts in various areas for the last one week, locals of Karan Bagh and Chatha areas held a strong protest against the Power Development Department, here today. Shouting slogans against the PDD authorities, the protesting people blocked Satwari-R S Pura road for more than an hour and demanded uninterrupted power supply with adequate voltage. A number of people, including women and senior citizens of Bhour Camp, Chatha Farm, Chatha Pind and adjoining areas took part in the protest. The protesters assembled at Karan Bagh Chowk amid raising of slogans against PDD. While addressing the gathering, protesters said that the residents of these areas are facing unscheduled power cuts, which have completely paralyzed their routine life. “The PDD is testing our patience as we have been facing hardships due to a power crisis for the last one week. The children, old and infirm are the worst sufferers, who cannot live without power in this hot weather,” they said, adding that despite their repeated pleas, the PDD has failed to resolve the problem.
“Even during night hours, there is no power for hours together and people have to spend sleepless nights,” they said and warned, “We will be forced to launch a massive agitation against the authorities in case the uninterrupted power supply is not restored at the earliest to our areas.”
Similar protests were held against PDD at various places of Jammu district.
Meanwhile, there seems to be no relief in sight for the residents of Kashmir facing electricity outages for the past several days, with the authorities citing the early onset of summer and sub-optimal hydro power generation as reasons for unscheduled power cuts.
People in the valley complain that power supply often get disrupted at the time of sehri (when pre-dawn meals to begin the day’s fast are taken) and iftar (when the fast is broken).
“There has been hardly a day when we have had electricity at the time of sehri or iftar. During the day, the situation gets worse. We have never faced such a situation before,” Javid Ahmad, a resident of Ganderbal, said.
Leaders of opposition parties have been blaming the administration for failing to provide relief to the residents.
Former J-K chief minister and National Conference (NC) vice president Omar Abdullah said seeking electricity was the right of the people and that the situation in the Union Territory was contrary to the tall claims of the administration about development. “It is our right to get electricity. They (the administration) made tall claims about development in J-K. Let them show where it is,” Omar said here.