Kulgam, Dec 26: The unprecedented hike in power- tariff on Saturday led to massive protests against the Power Development Department (PDD) in South Kashmir’s Kulgam district.
People from Larnoo, Poniwah, Zazrepora, Kinepora and Nanibug of Kulgam district took to the streets and blocked the road connecting Anantnag, Shopian and other areas for hours together.
Holding electricity bills in their hands, the locals as per the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) chanted slogans against the PDD and demanded that the increase in power tariff be revoked immediately.
Police later rushed to the spot and dispersed off the protesters.
The protesters alleged that the PDD has resorted to frequent power cuts and termed the recent power tariff hike amid such pesky power cuts as unjustified.
“The PDD doesn’t even stick to their own schedule and we don’t even get more than 10 hours of power supply a day despite being metered area,” said the protesters, adding that the PDD has increased the minimum charges at around Rs 4000 to 8000 against the earlier usage charges ranging from Rs 800-1000 as even if the person will use all appliances it is expected around 2,000 Rs only as per units.
The PDD, however, attributed the increase in power tariff to the huge pilferage in the areas.
“We are confronting rampant hooking in these areas due to which the power bills of the consumers are minimal than what it should have been, incurring huge losses to the department,” Executive Engineer PDD, Kulgam Mohammad Khalil Ahanger told KNO.
”He said that if they are not using hooking method, they should convey them through application then the investigation will once again be conducted to look into the matter—(KNO)
