SRINAGAR: With cold weather having begun, unscheduled and extended power cuts are adding to the miseries of people in Kashmir valley.
Consumers from metered areas allege that the Power department PDD is “taking us for a ride”.
“Meters were installed with a promise that we will get round the clock electricity, but the fact is that during winter we always face unscheduled power cuts and this year the situation is same,” said Bilal Ahmad, a resident of Bemina.
He accused the department of coming up with the excuse of less generation every year. “Despite power tariff being raised so many times during past years, they have nothing to offer to consumers except lame excuses,” Mr Ahmed added.
Residents of various areas shared the same story. They said there are frequent cuts in power supply after almost every two to three hours.
“The situation has gone from bad to worse during past two weeks. The power cuts are more frequent during evening hours,” one resident said.
Reports from rural areas of the valley say the situation there is worse and most of the villages and townships don’t get electricity for days together.
Meanwhile sources said the power department is yet to formulate the new curtailment schedule.
“So far no formal curtailment schedule has been drafted by the department. Everything is going on in a haphazard manner,” they said.
