Residents of Uri hold protest over hike in power bills, outages

Baramulla, June 24: Residents of Uri town, alongside members of the Traders Federation Uri, staged a protest Monday against the hike in electricity bills and the ongoing power cuts affecting the area.

Protesters carried banners decrying the unjustified increase in electricity charges, highlighting the severe difficulties faced by the local population.

For the people of border town Uri who have little economic avenues, the electricity bill hike is unjustified," said Haji Muhammad Shafi, the president of the Traders Federation Uri.

He pointed out the irony that despite housing major power projects the residents of Uri are grappling with exorbitant electricity costs and erratic power supply, which have severely disrupted daily life.

"We have given our precious land for the two power projects. However, the same people are now frustrated over the electricity bill hike and the frequent power cuts,” he added.

Firdous Ahmad, an aggrieved resident, expressed his dismay, recounting the area's tumultuous past. "In the last three decades, the residents of Uri have seen the worst bloodshed on the borders."

He said,”The frequent skirmishes and cross-border shelling have created destruction in the area. However, people of this area are now forced to bear the burden of huge electricity bills which has almost crippled the life of common people here."

Social activist Nadeem Akbar Abbasi echoed similar sentiments, describing the financial strain on daily wage labourers. "It is impossible for a local resident here, who relies on daily labour work, to pay an electricity bill of Rs 1500 or 2000," Abbasi said, urging the UT administration to intervene and alleviate the residents' burdens.

The protesters called on the government to address their grievances and provide relief to the economically marginalised population of Uri, and stressed that the administration should focus on winning the hearts of the people rather than imposing unnecessary financial burdens on them.