Erratic power cuts arrive in Kupwara before winters, people aghast

Kupwara, Oct 18: The erratic and prolonged power cuts before the onset of winter have started tormenting people across this frontier district.

The residents have accused authorities for failing to provide them regular power supply which has severely impacted their normal lives.

People hailing from Lalpora, Sogam, Warnaw, Kalarose, Khumriyal, Main Town Kupwara, Trehgam, Kralpora, Karnah, Tanghdar, Drugmulla, Nagri, Kandi, Vadhpora, Kawari, Natnusa, Maidan Chogal, Gund Chogal, Magam, Vilgam, Tarthpora, Hangikote, Sirajpora, Sunmula, Main Town Handwara, Upper and Lower Rajwar, Mawer, Upper and Lower Qaziabad and Kralgund complained about frequent power cuts in these areas. People said that for last 10 days power supply has been reduced to only few hours a day in the entire district.

“When only few hours of electricity is being supplied at the start of winter, one can imagine how worst the situation could be in the midst of season. Even patients dependent on oxygen concentrators also suffer due to lack of regular power supply,” a local told Greater Kashmir.

“I believe people of Kupwara happens to be forgotten lot for the concerned authorities. Earlier we were told that after the augmentation of Arampora and Vilgam receiving station, entire district will get substantial electricity but nothing like that happened,” he added. Another local said that erratic power supply has always remained a problem in Kupwara which gets worse in winters. “Unless the disparity between supply and demand is equalised, the problem will remain tormenting us,” he added.

Meanwhile Member Parlaiment Engineer Rashid told Greater Kashmir that he had a meeting with the Principal Secretary of the Power Development Department at civil secretariat recently which was attended by the MD of KPDCL and Chief Engineers. “The meeting was aimed to focus on addressing power outages and improving infrastructure in north Kashmir,” he added.

Rashid, however, appealed people to make judicious use of electricity so that authorities may not resort to unscheduled power cuts.