Wagoora villagers hold protest over inflated electricity bills

Baramulla, Jan 15: The residents of around five villages in Wagoora area of north Kashmir's Baramulla district staged a protest against the authorities accusing them of issuing inflated electricity bills.

The aggrieved residents were from Watergam Wagoora, Kawchak, Sheikhpora, Dardpora, Shirpora and Harnar.

While raising slogans against the PDD department, the protesters said that they are being charged as per flat rate electricity tariff which is around Rs 600-650 per month.  However, the electricity department has issued this time electricity bills amounting to Rs 1000-1500, which they claim is unjustified.

"The inflated bills are unacceptable to us," said Abdul Gaffar of Dardpora. "The department must rectify them and issue us bills as per flat tariff," he added.

The protesters assembled in the office of the PDD department Watergam Wagoora and resorted to sloganeering against the department.

While lashing out at the PDD authorities, the aggrieved residents said that “in our villages the unscheduled power cuts is a common factor here.” They said they don’t receive electricity even for four hours and how they can pay high electricity bills.

"We will continue our protest if the bills are not withdrawn. Justice must prevail and if flat rates are being charged then the department must stick to that tariff only," said another protester.

Meanwhile, the officials of the PDD department Watergam Wagoora said that they have asked them to submit their bills and if “bills are found inflated then we will rectify them.”