News Kashmir Exclusive
We all are aware that electricity is the very basic need of human life .But the Kashmir Valley is presenting a bleak outlook vis a vis electricity supply. The power crisis in Kashmir is reaching crippling proportions, with the supply-demand deficit reaching a record level that too at the start of harsh winter season . The prolonged spells of load shedding has become a norm in Kashmir Valley. With the result, life in kashmir has been made miserable and difficult to core.
On the other side the fact is that Kashmir possesses great capacity to harness hydro-electricity and does produce a great amount of electricity. But, inspite of that the power situation worsens as winter sets in and most of the areas of Kashmir are thrown into darkness with never ending painful spells of load shedding. To add to the woes, 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. The pulse on ground is that Kashmir is not getting due share of its hydroelectricity resources
From Srinagar to Bandipora to Qazigund every belt of Kashmir has been this winter hit more worse by loadshedding. Pertinently, the areas spread throughout central, north and south Kashmir are complaining about the crippling electricity woes.
Senior National Conference leader Advocate Nazir Malik, while talking to News Kashmir stated : “Located in Gurez valley of Bandipora district in north Kashmir, the 330 megawatt Kishenganga Hydroelectric power project inaugurated sometime back has meant no positive change for the people of the district . As neither the legal power share of the Bandipora district nor employment to local youth in these hydroelectricity projects is provided and all rules and regulations are brazenly violated . Life in the Bandipora district has been brought to grinding halt as a result of these often power cuts have adversely affected the business community and students . We are seeing the people losing their patience and angry protests erupting over power cuts , recently Residents of Hajin town Bandipora district blocked the Hajin-Srinagar road to protest against power crisis in the area, similar anger is witnessed from main Bandipora to other areas like Watapora Qazipora,Aloosa, Kaloosa Ashtangoo etc .”
On the other hand, anger is brewing north to south Kashmir over erratic power supply. As a matter of fact complete protest shutdown is being observed in Awantipora town of south Kashmir’s Pulwama district against Power Development Department.
As per reports a large number of locals staged a protest demonstration against the erratic power supply near townhall Awantipora and raised slogans against the PDD.
In the township all shops and other business establishments are closed against unscheduled and long hours of power cuts in Awantipora and several adjoining villages for last one month, reports said.
Undoubtedly the load shedding scenario is giving painful times to people of Kashmir .
