Kreeri (Baramulla): Residents of Kreeri and adjoining areas in north Kashmir have expressed strong resentment over repeated and unscheduled power cuts, urging Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister who also holds charge of the Power Development Department (PDD), to intervene immediately.
In an appeal issued through media and public platforms, the Traders’ Association Kreeri, on behalf of local residents, said that areas receiving electricity from the Delina Grid/Station have been facing frequent, prolonged and arbitrary outages, causing widespread hardship. The situation, they said, has worsened despite the installation of smart meters under a pilot project, which was intended to improve power supply and service delivery. The association cited a recent incident on December 20, 2025, when electricity was abruptly cut at around 10:09 am without any prior notice. Consumers were reportedly assured that power would be restored by 4:00 pm, but the supply was not resumed even after the promised time. According to residents, such incidents have become routine, with full-day power outages occurring almost every week. “These unannounced cuts have severely affected students, patients, small traders, shopkeepers, artisans and households,” the association said, adding that consumers are being compelled to pay electricity bills on time while the department has failed to provide a reliable supply. The association termed the situation as “institutional negligence” and a clear disregard for public hardship. The Traders’ Association said that despite repeated representations to the concerned authorities, no tangible improvement has been seen. It warned that if the issue is not addressed immediately, traders are proposing to observe a one-day protest on Monday, including the closure of shops and commercial establishments, to register their protest against what they described as persistent injustice. In their appeal, the residents demanded an immediate end to arbitrary and unscheduled power cuts, advance public notification of any planned shutdowns, fixing of accountability at field and divisional levels, a comprehensive review of the Delina power supply system, and an assessment of the apparent failure of the smart meter pilot project in the area.
“The people of Kreeri are law-abiding citizens who expect fair treatment, transparency and uninterrupted basic services. Continued neglect will only erode public trust and deepen anger,” the association said, expressing hope that the Chief Minister’s office would take swift and decisive action to prevent further hardship.
