Handwara residents take out protest march over power tariff hike

Kupwara, June 24: Scores of people from Waisa Kawnar Monday assembled at Power Development Department (PDD) Division Handwara to protest against a hike in monthly power tariff.

The protesters raised slogans against the Kashmir Power Distribution Corporation Limited (KPDCL) for a two-fold increase in monthly electricity tariff.

“Most of the people in our area are poor and cannot afford to pay extra fees. The concerned authorities have doubled our electricity tariff which is impossible for us to pay so we are protesting against this arbitrary hike," said Mohammad Rafiq, a protester from Waisa village.

"We hardly manage our day to day needs because most of the people in our area belong to the labour class. This abrupt increase in power tariff is an injustice to us,” Rafiq added.

The protesters said that they used to pay Rs 500 per month as electricity tariff and later Rs 720 but to their utter shock this month they have received electricity bills of Rs 1050.

The protesters have appealed Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha to take a call on this so that justice is meted out to them.