Though two weeks are still left for the shifting of Darbar from Srinagar to Jammu, but power development department has started enforcing power curtailments in the afternoon and midnight hours since last four days. Fact of the matter is that the power crisis in Kashmir has been high during two successive previous regimes and worst ever power crisis more so during winter during last years speaks volumes about the failures of government in streamlining the power distribution system in Kashmir valley. Keeping in view the fact that power curtailment schedule is supposed to be implemented from mid December every year as per the routine, the power curtailments enforcement even two weeks before the shifting of darbar move to Jammu shows the non seriousness of the government in the addressing the deepening power crisis in Kashmir valley. Though the power development department (PDD) generates major revenue from Kashmir valley than the Jammu & Ladhak regions but the power supply in Jammu despite its less contribution in the revenue collection of power development department is improving month after month during last two years of PDP-BJP coalition rule in the state. As the power development portfolio is held by Nirmal Singh the incumbent Deputy Chief Minister and head of the BJP part of the coalition ministry the Jammu region is getting much attention in the generation and distribution of power. Though Valley is reeling far behind in the distribution of power supply but Chief Minister Mehbooba who during last year’s assembly session blamed unrest for worsening power distribution system in Kashmir does not both to seek clarifications from the Power Development on pre-winter power curtailment practice in Srinagar and other parts of Kashmir valley .
The mid autumn power curtailments never witnessed during last two decades not noticed by the Chief Minister so for deserve her immediate attention and a schedule for hassle free power would the only way to address the power woes of the people in Valley.
The Chief Minister boasting of her public contact program from September this year talks of tourism promotion but does not care too into the reasons of the failure of the power development department in resuming the process of the electrification of the major towns of Kashmir valley kept in limbo by the previous two successive popular governments. Despite knowing the fact that the promotion of tourism in Kashmir is totally dependent on the availability of prompt power facilities in the state the Chief Minister does not bother to resume the electrification process of the major tourist destinations of Kashmir identified for tourism promotion by two previous successive popular governments. The mid autumn power curtailments never witnessed during last two decades not noticed by the Chief Minister so for deserve her immediate attention and a schedule for hassle free power would the only way to address the power woes of the people in Valley.
