Rollback Power Tariff Hike , People are Financial Distress: Hakeem tells J&K Govt

Srinagar: Chairman of the People’s Democratic Front (PDF) Hakeem Muhammad Yaseen on Wednesday voiced serious concern over the recent spike in power tariffs, demanding an immediate rollback of the decision. Yaseen said the augmented power tariffs, in any form, were placing an unbearable financial strain on the already distressed poor and middle-class citizens.
In a statement issued here on Wednesday, Hakeem expressed dismay over the persistent power crisis in the Kashmir region. He emphasized concern over the dire financial situation of consumers in both metered and un-metered areas, asserting therein their inability to cope up with the heightened power rates. Yaseen called for an urgent reconsideration of the decision, aiming to alleviate the financial burden on the citizens.
Furthermore, Yaseen deplored the ongoing power outages in the Kashmir region, citing the severe hardships faced by consumers due to the prevailing power crisis. He criticized the reported extension of the lease of electricity from the Rattle Power Project in Kishtwar to Rajasthan, stating that it added to the worries of the people.
Yaseen identified the general populace, students, unit holders, and hoteliers as the primary victims of the current power crisis. He condemned the leasing of electricity from the Rattle Power Project in Kishtwar to Rajasthan, asserting that it usurped the rights of the local populace over their natural resources.
In his plea, Yaseen urged the government to revoke both the recent power tariff hike and the reported MOU signed in Jaipur on January 3, 2024, regarding the leasing of electricity from the Rattle Power Project to Gujarat state. He argued that given the prevailing severe financial condition of the people and the ongoing power crisis, there was no justification for increasing power tariffs and extending the power lease to Gujarat for another 40 years.