Govt’s nonchalant attitude towards persisting power crises in J&K worrisome: Masoodi
Says, ripple- effect of erratic power supply taking its toll on irrigation other vital sectors
Srinagar: The Jammu and Kashmir National Conference Member of Parliament Anantnag Hasnain Masoodi on Monday said that the J&K administration remains shockingly unperturbed by the predicaments of people in wake of the worst ever power crises in Jammu and Kashmir.
In a statement issued here, Masoodi said: “The ruling dispensations both at the center and local level in J&K are sleeping over the pressing need to find an early solution to the worst ever power crises in Jammu and Kashmir.”
“Such a crisis has never been witnessed in the last three decades. On one hand people have whimsically and high-handedly increased power tariff and renewed old agreements. Tariff is also extracted forcefully notwithstanding the financial conditions of consumers. Electric supply in the Valley is playing hide and seek with consumers. Ideally the incumbent LG administration should have provided hassle free electricity to people during the ongoing holy month of Ramzan. Unfortunately the consumers have been left high and dry. The power supply in certain areas does not even last long enough to charge mobile phones and inverters. The persisting crisis has impacted the daily lives of people besides dampening the festive spirit of the ongoing holy month of Ramzan,” he said.
“Earlier, when public representatives used to flag issues concerning people, the concerned officials would take no time to redress the issues,” Masoodi said adding, “Today the situation is altogether different. Leisure shikara drives on Dal Lake won’t solve issues. Government is totally blind to the burgeoning issues concerning people. Earlier officials would pay heed to the issues raised by public representatives. But now they are completely overlooking the issues flagged by general public and public representatives. There is no basis to the claims of the government’s good governance claims in Kashmir.”
“At a time when state governments were relaxing impending bills and relaxing usage charges across the country, the incumbent J&K government,” he said, “was busy extorting heavy tariffs from people. “When it comes to ensuring steady supply of electricity, the incumbent government flees from its responsibilities.”
“The persisting crises is having a cascading effect on other vital areas particularly the agriculture sector. The day long power cuts have severely impacted left irrigation facilities and supply of drinking potable water supply, fodder crops, Paddy, Orchards and vegetables crops are drying due to electricity shortage. Livestock farmers in upper reaches and hinterlands are also at the receiving end of the executive apathy,” he said.
Asking the government to wake from slumber, Masoodi demanded tangible steps from the government to redress the issues before it upsets local agriculture, tourism, and other public utility services.
