Srinagar : The inhabitants of various metered localities of Srinagar on Friday expressed their resentment against the Power Development Department (PDD) for failing to provide them with adequate supply during the harsh winters.
Areas including Chinar Coly, Bagh-e-Usman (A&B), Chinar Avenue, Chinar Colony, Islamia Colony, Pathan Colony and other areas of the city expressed their resentment against the authorities for failing to provide them power supply as per new electricity schedule.These areas are getting power supply from F1 under receiving station Gulab Bagh.
Abdul Rahman Khan, a resident of Chinar Colony said despite residing in the smart metered areas, they are facing prolonged power cuts during morning and evening hours. We hardly get electricity for a few hours in a whole day, he said.
Khan alleged that there are 8-10 hours of power cuts and urged the department to look into this issue, so that local residents will get a sigh of relief.
As per locals, these areas were cabled and smart metered in the months of June and July 2022 but despite that these colonies have been put in non metered zones with an 8 hours long power cut.
They alleged that there are a number of colonies which are not fully smart metered and have been put in metered areas which receive only 4 hours power cut daily.
Another local, Shakir Ahmad from Islamia Colony said that in absence of the power supply, they are facing problems. The department had installed smart meters in the area but they have failed to provide electricity supply as per the schedule, he said.
“Despite paying bills on time, we are forced to spend evenings and nights in darkness. Even the administration has recently hiked the power tariff by 18% but things have remained unchanged on the ground,” he said.
We appeal to LG Manoj Sinha led administration to direct the Chief Engineer PDD to address the issue otherwise we will be left with no option but to resort to the peaceful demonstration against the administration.
On enquiry from the concerned EXEN, Salim Ali termed the allegations of residents as baseless and stated there can be power cuts for 3-4 hours and but not 8-10 hours long period.
“The department is committed to the new curtailment schedule. Sometimes there can be faults at some places but they are being repaired within a minimum time gap,” he said.
The copy of curtailment schedule issued by Kashmir Power Distribution Corporation Limited signed by the Chief Engineer shows 8hr power cut in these respected areas, counters the claims of Ex. En .
