SRINAGAR: Residents in many parts of the Kashmir valley are up in arms against the Power Development Department (PDD).
In north Kashmir’s Baramulla district, residents from many villages on Monday blocked the National Highway over what they said were inflated electricity bills.
“We used to Pay Rs 150 per month as power tariff. However, this month we have received bill of Rs 545 from PDD. This is gross injustice, “one of the protesters told a local news agency, KNS.
“There seems to be complete anarchy in the State. Where would the poor go?” asked a resident of Kralgund, Ashipora.
The protests continued for three hours, before PDD officials assured action over the issue.
They assured the residents that revised bills would soon be dispatched to them.
Meanwhile, residents of Bemina in the outskirts of Srinagar have complained about a similar issue.
The representatives of Iqbalabad, Towheedabad and Sirsyedabad loclalities of the area convened at meeting and sought the intervention authorities for reviewing the “arbitrary” decision of hike in power tariff.
“Without any notice or consultation, PDD hiked the rates. This is completely an arbitrary decision. We appeal to the authorities to reconsider this unilateral hike otherwise we would be forced to take legal course,” said the residents.
They recalled that in past similar practices were adopted by the PDD, but insisted that this time they would fight it tooth and nail.
“Consumers have started receiving inflated bills according to this new directive,” they added.
