News Kashmir Exclusive
Kashmir possesses huge capacity to harness hydro-electricity and does produce an impressive amount of electricity. But, inspite of these very facts the power situation deteriorates as soon as winter sets in, and most of the areas of Kashmir are thrown into darkness with never ending load shedding.
As a matter of fact, the power generation in Kashmir, which is said to be capable of generating more than 20000 MW power, seems by and large a Delhi-controlled affair as State government has failed to bring back the ownership of several power projects .
Students are undoubtedly the most terribly affected by this unbridled load shedding, which have brought exam preparations to a near standstill. The negative impacts of load shedding are beyond description – From Housewife to students, Doctor to Technocrat ,Professional to Labourer everyone seems to be badly hit by the current spell of never ending load shedding throughout the length and breadth of the valley . Pertinently, the load shedding is more badly affecting those students who are either attaining online education or depend upon online mediums for their education.
With these unabated power cuts the resentment and anger is also growing among masses of Kashmir from North to South. Be it Downtown and uptown areas of Sumer capital Srinagar the power crisis is deepening. Recently, the people of Maisuma, Gaw Kadal, Basant Bagh and other adjoining areas staged protests in heart of the City and blocked vehicular movement at Budshah Chowk. The protesters, mostly women, said that the PDD is resorting to ‘unnecessary load-shedding’ of power which causing lot of problems to them. Pertinently, Protests also broke out at Koil village of Pulwama district in south Kashmir against unscheduled power curtailment.
Power protests have even history of turning violent and claiming precious lives. A class 12 student was killed and two persons injured when Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) personnel guarding National Hydroelectric Power Corporation projects in Kashmir had opened fire on people protesting against power shortage in Boniyar area of North Kashmir’s Baramulla district at the start of year 2012 . The CISF personnel at that juncture had opened fire, killing Altaf Ahmad Sood (18) son of Bashir Ahmad of Barnait, Boniyar on the spot. Parvaiz Ahmad son of Ghulam Hassan and Abdul Majid son of Wali Muhammad, both of Boniyar, were injured in that firing incident .
While talking to News Kashmir Magazine Beenish Parray, a Writer States – ” As soon as long spell of winter dawns on Kashmir power cuts become a norm. Be it downtown, uptown areas of Srinagar or for that matter rural areas the power crisis makes life terrible for the masses especially students undergoing different exams .Government should immediately revisit the policy of long and unscheduled power cuts as it is making life difficult for masses. Power is one of the most basic necessities in our age and we should be provided with regular electricity.”
Without ambiguity the nutshell analysis is that Kitchens, IT Centers, Study Rooms, Industrial sectors , Prayer Places all other significant spheres of life are getting adversely hit by the peril of sustained load shedding and the problem demands instantaneous action otherwise the lava of anger generated would not have good consequences. Government should take necessary steps to curb load shedding before this problem goes out of hand and people are forced to protest aggressively.
