“In Kashmir’s sub-zero winters, reliable electricity is a critical survival necessity rather than a luxury. Constant power outages during this season threaten public health, disrupt essential daily activities, and worsen socio-economic hardships”.
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah’s recent revelation that only 48 per cent of Srinagar enjoys round-the-clock electricity has sparked a serious debate on equity, governance, and priorities in Kashmir’s power sector. The statement, while intended to highlight improvements, inadvertently underlines a harsher reality: more than half of the summer capital, along with vast stretches of the Kashmir Valley, continues to grapple with darkness, erratic supply, and uncertainty—especially during the harsh winter months. At a time when temperatures plunge well below freezing, electricity in Kashmir is not a luxury but a basic survival need. Power outages during winter disrupt daily life, endanger health, and deepen social and economic stress. The Chief Minister’s remark lends credibility to long-standing public complaints that power supply has improved largely in metered areas, while non-metered localities—often densely populated and economically weaker—remain neglected. This has reinforced a perception of a divided city, where access to electricity mirrors social and economic privilege. It is an open secret that most influential and elite families reside in metered areas, which reportedly receive uninterrupted power even during peak winter. In contrast, large parts of Srinagar and almost the entire rural Kashmir belt face frequent and prolonged outages. This imbalance raises uncomfortable questions about fairness in governance and the intent behind power distribution policies. If metering has become a prerequisite for reliable electricity, then the government must ask why metering has not been expanded equitably and efficiently across all areas. Compounding the problem are persistent complaints about the functioning of the Kashmir Power Distribution Corporation Limited (KPDCL). Consumers across urban and rural areas allege delayed responses to breakdowns, damaged transformers, and snapped service lines. These issues are particularly alarming as the Valley approaches “Chilla-i-Kalan,” the harshest 40-day winter period.
“Electricity governance must be measured by its equity and reliability for the vulnerable, rather than mere statistics. It criticizes the institutional apathy within the Kashmir Power Distribution Corporation Limited (KPDCL), citing poor maintenance and a lack of accountability. To fix this, the author calls for transparent distribution, protections for the poor, and better winter preparedness to ensure that power is a universal service rather than a privilege for a few.”
Preventive maintenance and rapid repair mechanisms should have been strengthened well before winter set in, yet ground realities suggest otherwise. Reports of recent administrative reshuffles within KPDCL have further fueled public anger. Allegations that experienced local ground staffs have been displaced have gained traction, with residents claiming this has led to slower repairs and poor coordination on the ground. In a region where terrain, weather, and local knowledge play a crucial role in restoring power supply, sidelining local expertise appears counterproductive. Electricity governance cannot be reduced to statistics about percentages and metered zones. It must be judged by how effectively it serves the most vulnerable during the most difficult times. The lack of vigilance over timely repairs, transformer upgrades, and consumer grievance redressal reflects a deeper institutional apathy that needs urgent correction. If the government is serious about improving power supply, consumer convenience and equity must be at the core of policy and practice. This requires transparent distribution norms, accelerated metering with safeguards for the poor, accountability within KPDCL, and robust winter preparedness. Otherwise, Srinagar will remain a city half-lit and half-dark—an unfortunate metaphor for governance that illuminates privilege while leaving the rest in the cold.
