How long will people be deprived of electricity: Tarigami

Srinagar, May 14: CPI (M) leader Mohammad Yousuf Tarigami on Tuesday said that the ongoing power crisis is a failure of administration and mismanagement by those at the helm.

In a statement, he  said that the  recent declaration by the Kashmir Power Distribution Corporation Limited (KPDCL) of additional power curtailments is unacceptable and a blatant disregard for the well-being of the people of Jammu & Kashmir. “The people of Kashmir are shrouded in darkness, both literally and metaphorically. The claim of surplus is a cruel joke when our citizens are subjected to unscheduled power cuts and outages, now exacerbated by further curtailments. While other states enjoy the benefits of 10 percent free power, J&K is unjustly deprived, despite our natural resources being exploited. We demand at least 40 percent free power as compensation for the use of our land and water resources,” Tarigami said.

He added that it is an economic burden and a social injustice that J&K must annually purchase power worth  Rs 3-4 thousand crore , only to impose this cost on our citizens through unjust power curtailments. “This is a policy failure and deliberate subjugation of our rights. We demand immediate rectification of these injustices and the implementation of equitable power-sharing norms. The era of empty assurances and defensive stances must end now. The citizens of J&K deserve transparency, fairness, and respect,” the CPI(M) leader said.

He stated that the  consumers have expressed concerns and are troubled by the inflated bills generated by smart meters. The focus should be on ensuring sufficient electricity rather than just meters, Tarigami said.

“PDD have filed FIRs against various consumers recently. Instead, consumers have right to lodge FIRs against administration for putting them in darkness. The administration must address the issue promptly to ensure the consumers have consistent access to electricity for their daily needs,” the CPI(M) leader said.