Recurring power cuts cause hardships in Shopian villages
Shopian, Mar 1: Several villages in south Kashmir’s Shopian district are experiencing recurring and unscheduled power outages, exacerbating the hardships of residents.
The residents from Chitragam, Nagabal, Bandpawa and Handew villages told Greater Kashmir that they have to bear the brunt of an erratic power supply.
Aqaib Ahmad, a resident from Chitragam village said that they are witnessing the frequent and protracted power cuts. “The electricity alternates between on for 10 minutes and off for a 20 minutes cycle”, said Ahmad.
He said that they have never seen such a worst power scenario over the last few years. The residents said that the power supply has further gone downhill for the last two weeks.
Manzoor Ahmad , another resident from Nagabal village said that the recurring power cuts have badly affected the patients suffering from Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease ( COPD).
“These patients have to press generators into service in the absence of a seamless power supply”, said the resident.
The residents from Nagabal, Bandpawa and Handew villages also echoed the similar view related to the erratic power supply. They said that the government has enhanced the power tariffs despite providing a subpar electric supply.
“The power tariffs were recently increased from Rs 750 to Rs 1050 only to overburden the poor”, said the residents.
They said that during the entire winter their villages witnessed long and unscheduled power cuts.
A resident from Handew told Greater Kashmir over the phone that the village and its adjoining hamlets like Manihal and Hollow are receiving barely 5 to 6 hours of electricity.
“A seamless electric supply continues to remain a far distant dream”, said the resident.
An official, who declined to be quoted in this report, said that the power scenario worsened post snowfall.
“The problem is with the allocation of power supply. The supply has been reduced significantly”, he said.
He said an inadequate supply leads to frequent power cuts.
