by Faheem Mir

Srinagar:  As the Kashmir valley is punished with massive power cuts, the power scenario in Rafiabd tehsil town of district Baramulla is a dismal one as most of the villages hardly see electricity.

More than 25 villages of the upper belt of the area receive only one hour of electricity in 24 hours. The area receives electricity supply from Watergam receiving station, the only receiving station providing power supply to almost two hundred villages.

Waseem Ahmad, a class 10th student, a resident of Zeathan, Rafiabad, said that the poor supply of electricity is directly affecting studies of the student community. “Our exams are going on but the hide and seek of electricity distract us from our studies,” said Waseem.

Representational Picture

The residents further stated that there is no accountability for the PDD department and there is no justification for them to raise bills on account of electricity which has not been provided by the department.

The situation is no different in most of the areas in other parts of the district where the electricity is giving nightmares to the general public, “the PDD is taking the villages of Dnagiwacha, Rawoocha, Chanam, Hachipora, Sheikhpora, Chatoosa, Zeathan, Kangroosa, Pakhwara, Hanoora and Pazwalpora for granted. “People here face prolonged power cuts, which literally has pushed to walls.” Mehraj Ahmad, a local said.

People alleged that besides the poor power supply, the department distributed electric poles unfairly. “They provided electric poles to most of the villages, but our village Pazwalpora received nothing,” said Sadam Farooq.

While common consumers including students are bearing the brunt of the unscheduled power cuts, the crisis has hit even the traders mostly. “We are paying commercial tariff but unfortunately PDD is resorting to unscheduled power cuts. If the problem persists we will be forced to take the extreme step of stopping payment of power dues,” the residents threatened.

“The situation in Kandi belt of Rafiaabad’s Dangiwacha is worse with local residents having to reel in darkness for hours,” residents added

While accepting all the allegations MLA Rafiabad, Yawar Dilawar Mir, Said that he is not refusing the allegations, “but the fact is that we have only one receiving in watergam, which supplies electricity to half of the Langate constituency that increases the load on receiving station.”

Mir further stated that they have already proposed the establishment of two more receiving stations for the upper belts of Rohama and Dangiwacha, and “I hope the government will approve them very soon,” he said.

When asked about the discrimination while distributing electric poles in the area he said: “the distribution will take place everywhere, there is no discrimination and the initiative is to provide the supply to every household.”

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