Protests rock Valley over pesky power cuts
Excelsior Correspondent
Srinagar, Apr 27: Chief Engineer Jammu and Kashmir Power Development Corporation Limited, Kashmir, Javed Yousuf, today said that there will be no improvement in power situation in the Valley as power supply from the Northern Grid is no longer going to increase anytime soon.
The Chief Engineer told Excelsior that present demand of the electricity in the Valley is between 1600-1700 MWs but the availability is only 800 MWs. He said that this year due to hot weather the demand for electricity in Kashmir increased. “Last year we had a demand of 1700 MWs in July,” he added.
He said that the shortage is throughout north India and it may continue. “We are not expecting any relief on the power front soon,” he added.
The power crisis has led to severe problems for the people especially on life support. Javed Ahmad of Soura area of Srinagar says that his wife is on oxygen support and power crisis has led to serious health problems for her. “She was on balcony of her house throughout last night as she was gasping for breath in absence of oxygen”, he said.
Ahmad said that their area gets 15-30 minutes power supply 3-4 times a day. “This is the worst ever crisis our area has seen and my wife is suffering. I can’t afford a generator,” he added.
Meanwhile, acute power crisis has forced people to come out on roads in protest. Such protests were held at scores of places across Kashmir. They include Lawvaypora, Basant Bagh, Gow Kadal, Zoonimar, Haft Chinar and many other places.
In Lawaypora in the outskirts of Srinagar people mostly women blocked the National Highway and traffic remained blocked for 15-20 minutes leading to huge traffic jam. The protesters alleged that the area is facing worst power crisis. “We get hardly 2 hours power supply in 24 hours. There is no power during the day and in the evening, we hardly get 20-30 minutes power supply”, said Amir Hussain, a protester.
People mostly women also held protest against pesky power cuts at Sonwar in Srinagar and blocked the main chowk for half an hour. “We only get few minutes power supply during this Holy month. We have no power during Iftar and Sehri”, said a woman protester. Police fired pepper gas to clear the road that was blocked by the protesters.
The power crisis has affected the industries as well. Shahid Kamili, the president of the Federation Chamber of Industries said that industries are facing massive power cuts for last few days which is affecting already struggle industrial sector.
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