Protests erupt over erratic power supply in Kupwara villages

Kupwara, Feb 29:  People from several villages including Zirhama, Gujjar Pati, Kawari, Laderwan and Marhama in north Kashmir’s Kupwara district Thursday protested against the Power Development Department over frequent and unscheduled power cuts.

The protestors said that they were witnessing frequent power cuts making their life miserable. They said that the department has taken them for a ride, leaving them with no option but to stage the protest.

“We have been forced to hit the streets as the department has failed to provide us electricity according to a set schedule. In fact, the power supply has been reduced to only a few hours a day in our villages for the last several months. I believe we are a forgotten lot for the concerned authorities," said a protestor.

"Due to erratic power supply, the students who are supposed to appear in Board examinations in March are unable to study during evening hours due to lack of electricity. In fact the shopkeepers running their business in these villages are the worst sufferers," he added.

The protesters said that the concerned department was watching as mute spectator instead of taking concrete steps to redress their grievance. They said that they have taken up the issue with the concerned authorities on several occasions in the past, but to no avail.

The protesters have sought immediate intervention of Deputy Commissioner Kupwara Ayushi Sudan in this regard so that the hardships being faced by them may end soon.