Unscheduled power cuts irk B’pora residents
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Demand installation of meters, threaten protests
Mir Tariq Bandipora, April 30: Facing unscheduled power cuts, the residents of this newly created North Kashmir district have called on Power Development Department (PDD) install meters and provide round the clock power supply to people.
The unscheduled power cuts have become rampant in Kaloosa, Nathpora, Watapora, Onagam, Leharwalpora, Putushay, Mangnipora and adjoining villages in Bandipora district. The residents of the affected villages alleged that the department is doing it intentionally to ‘harass’ people.Councilor ward No 13, Maqsood Ahmad Rather said, “Without any reason PDD men are creating darkness in our zone comprising ten villages. This is despite the fact that all the customers have signed an agreement with the department and are paying the monthly electricity bills on time”. “They have got no justification in denying electricity to us,” he added.Reyaz Ahmed Wani of Nathpora said, “After the snowfall, the water level in rivers and streams has increased but there has been no corresponding improvement in the power supply. The unscheduled and unnoticed power cuts have badly affected the commercial and domestic life of the people in the affected villages”.Accusing PDD's engineers of practicing nepotism, the residents complained that they are providing power supply to those areas, where there relatives reside. The students are the worst hit as they are unable to concentrate on study in absence of electricity. “We find it difficult to concentrate on our studies,” said a youth Aijaz Ahmad, adding, “PDD is playing with our careers”.Wali Muhammad said, “We live in municipal limits but have been denied electricity by the PDD owing to reasons best known to them. The department is meting step-motherly treatment with us”.Perturbed over the unscheduled power cuts, the residents of the affected villages have called on the PDD officials to install electronic meters to ensure power supply. “Even if we have to pay more we are ready to do it,” said the residents.“Meters should be immediately installed in non-metered zones of the district so that we get rid of irregular power supply and frequent power cuts,” said Majid Ahmed Rather of Kaloosa, adding "If the department fails to install meters in our areas, we will take to roads to stage protest demonstrations against PDD”.It is in place to mention here that PDD has installed meters in few villages in Bandipora district. Talking to Rising Kashmir Assistant Executive Engineer PDD Bandipora Muhammed Sayed said "due to heavy load-shedding there are chances of that 33,000 KV line may be damaged. As a precaution, PDD is resorting to irregular power curtailments in some areas”.He said that a stern action will be taken against any employee, who is not doing his job properly. Commenting on the installation of meters, Sayed said "A team of engineers is conducting survey in non-metered areas. It will take few months to install meters areas, where the customers are registered with the department