Kulgam, October 15: Several villages including Manzgam, Khur Batpora, Watto, Asnoor, Aharbal and other adjoining villages of south Kashmir’s Kulgam district are facing severe power crisis from last 3 months.
According to locals, the said villages get electricity from DH Pora Kulgam grid station which is not able to cater to the electricity demands of several areas of Kulgum district. “We are being deprived of basic amenity of life as most parts of Kulgam district are reeling under severe electricity shortage with no indication of improvement,” locals here told Kashmir Images.
The residents here said that they have been paying the electricity bills without fail; however, Power Development Department (PDD) is taking them on a ride as the electricity remains scarce in their areas. “Annual examinations are ahead and our children find it hard to focus on their studies due to severe power crisis in our area. They are being forced to study under solar lumps,” said a group of parents of school going children.
Residents further said that out of 24 hours they get electricity for an average of 2 hours that too in an unscheduled manner. “There is no schedule for power supply in our areas. If the electricity schedule is 1pm to 6pm, we get electricity 2 hours prior to 6pm,” they added.
One of the residents of Kulgam district, Nazir Ahmad, said: “Concerned authorities are being indifferent to our sufferings as they pacify us with one or the other reason. We were told, of late, that some repairing work of electric wires is being done but two months have already passed since then without any visible improvement in the power supply.
When contacted Executive Engineer PDD Kulgam Division said: “Due to the ongoing augmentation process of power grid station in Kulgam district, the routine power supply to these areas is disrupted and the same will continue for next 15 days till the work is completed.”
“As far as DH Pora power grid station is concerned it caters to a vast area and due to overload, extended power cuts are witnessed. Our department will look into the matter of power shortage and will try our best to solve the issue to mitigate the sufferings of people,” he added.
