Unscheduled power cuts irk Downtown residents, traders

Srinagar, Nov 17: Residents and traders of Downtown have expressed against unscheduled power cuts from the last several weeks.

The traders said that unscheduled power outages are taking a toll on their business. “There are multiple unscheduled power cuts throughout the day. This is taking a toll on us amid the cold wave,” said Nazir Ahmad, a Downtown resident.

Ayaz Zehgeer, secretary of Downtown’s Beopar Mandal trade body, said that the traders in the business hub of Shahr-e-Khaas have been hit badly by unscheduled power cuts.

He said that areas like Maharaj Gunj, Zaina Kadal, Bohri Kadal, Saraf Kadal, Rajouri Kada , Jamia Masjid and adjoining areas are facing unprecedented power cuts.

“Our businesses have been badly affected due to the issue. Most of the traders have equipped their business units with inverters, but when there are too many power cuts, we are unable to charge even the gadgets. Our trade now is highly dependent on power supply and gadgets, and when too many power interruptions happen, it affects the business,” Zehgeer said.

The traders said that without electricity, their shops wear a deserted look. They said traders like restaurant owners, electronic gadget sellers, and others have been affected badly.

“We have electronic equipment to use on a daily basis, and with no electricity, we suffer a lot. Many traders depend more on electric supply to carry out their work, they are facing the brunt. We cannot run our ACs in our food outlets which is driving away the customers,” Altaf Ahmad, a restaurant owner, said.

The Kashmir Trade Alliance (KTA), a major trade organisation in Srinagar, in a statement, voiced its discontent with the worsening power supply situation in Kashmir

Aijaz Shahdhar, President of KTA said that "the inconsistency in adhering to the power schedule has had a direct and adverse impact on various sectors, including industries, the business community, general trade, manufacturing, and the burgeoning e-commerce sector in Kashmir."