Kupwara residents grapple with erratic power schedule

Kupwara, Dec 21: The residents across north Kashmir’s Kupwara district have expressed strong resentment against authorities for failing to provide them regular power supply causing enduring hardships for them.

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 the power supply has been reduced to only a few hours a day in most of the areas for over a month now.

“Only a few hours of electricity is being supplied to us causing immense hardships. 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 happen to be a forgotten lot for the concerned authorities. Earlier we were told that after the augmentation of Arampora and Vilgam receiving stations, the 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.

Even the areas with smart meters are grappling with lack of substantial electricity in the district. “Last year when smart meters were installed in our area, we were promised of substantial electricity but surprisingly only a few hours of electricity is being supplied to us,” Imtiyaz Ahmad, a local from Umer Abad Handwara told Greater Kashmir.

The residents have appealed Chief Minister Omar Abdullah to personally intervene into this pressing issue so that they may get respite.