Electricity plays hide and seek in restored areas
Tourist places of Gulmarg, Pahalgam, Sonamarg groping in dark
Fayaz Bukhari
SRINAGAR, Nov 10: As the Power Development Department (PDD) claimed to have restored power supply to South and Central Kashmir, majority areas especially villages are still in dark and in those areas where it was restored, it is erratic.
As the administration claimed to give big boost to tourism in Kashmir, it has failed to restore power to famous tourist resorts of Gulmarg, Sonamarg, Pahalgam, Kokernag and Acchabal. The tourists in Gulmarg have canceled the night stay for last few days due to power breakdown. “It is difficult to provide them heating facility and there is water shortage due to power breakdown as well so they cancel the night stay”, said a Gulmarg hotelier.
The power in several areas of Srinagar including posh areas is yet to be restored and they are groping in darkness for last four days. The areas of Kursu Rajbagh, Jawahar Nagar, Indra Nagar, Zakura, Shalteng were yet to be restored by this evening.
“We are without electricity for last four days. Even water supply to our areas was restored today. Our children who are appearing in examinations are suffering. This has happened for the first time in decades. I have seen heavy snowfall in past but power was being restored within 24, hours in our area”, said Sheikh Tariq, a resident of Kursu, Rajbagh area of Srinagar.
The power to HMT, Rajbagh and several other areas of city was restored today but it is erratic. “It was restored this evening in our area but it is erratic. It just comes for 5 minutes and goes for one hour or two hours. This is happening for the first time in our area. There is total mess, said Waseem Ahmad of Zainakote, Srinagar.
“The power supply was restored at 6.30 pm on Saturday in Rainawari area, but it is erratic. We essentially get to see the light merely for one hour and there is shutdown for next few hours,” said Adil Amin of Rainawari.
“There are few localities in our area where the transformers have developed technical snag. Those areas such as Chopan Mohalla are feeling under darkness,” he said.
“We got to see the electricity on 11 pm on Saturday after three days and since Sunday morning there is no electricity in the area. The PDD lineman in the area told us that there has been some snag and the supply will not be restored soon,” said Sameer Ahmad Rather, a resident of Maharaj Pora, Batamaloo.
“There is an HT line lying on the road near city hospital, Tengpora. Another is lying on the road outside Amar Singh College and nobody is bothered to get these lines repaired,” he said.
Jehangir Ahmad a resident of Iddgah, said power that was restored to their area last evening is erratic. “We are subjected to unscheduled power cuts. At 5 pm on Saturday, they restored the supply and by 7:30 p.m it was again off,” he said
“The power supply was restored at 5 p.m on Saturday in our area, it continues to remain erratic. The administration took more than enough time in restoring the power supply this time,” said Azad Ahmad, a resident of Soura.
Lasjan area in Srinagar is still groping in darkness since Thursday. “We have not seen electricity since Thursday. The restoration process seems to be taxing more time as more than three days have passed and the population continues to suffer due to the poor administrative handling of the problems. It seems the administration was unaware of weather taking a turn despite warnings issued by the MeT,” said Deeba Ashral, a resident of Lasjan area.
In Budgam and Ganderbal districts, power was being restored within 24 hours in the past, post snowfall but majority of the areas are reeling under darkness and in some areas HT lines are still lying on the road. The electricity in major towns of Budgam district like Charar-e-Sharif, Beerwah, Magam and Khag is yet to be restored.
Javed Ahmad of Soibugh in district Budgam said that power was being restored to our area within few hours of snowfall due to its proximity to Shariefabad Grid Station but it is yet to be restored in the area. The PDD is lying, let anyone of them come here and show us where it has been restored. We have HT and LT lines lying on the road,” he added.
Sarwar Maqbool of Budgam said that it is the auspicious day of Milad here and power is yet to be restored. “The Charar-e-Shareef shrine which is having an essential transmission line is yet to be restored. The areas like Chadoora, Nowpora, Hanjura along with other areas are reeling under darkness,” he said.
“The electricity has been restored in main town Budgam today afternoon but it is erratic and comes for 10 minutes and goes for hour, said Ishfaq Ahmad a shopkeeper in main town Budgam.
Ganderbal is another worst sufferer where majority of the population is without power since Thursday. “There is no power supply in the area since Thursday. The transmission lines continue to remain grounded as the administration gave less attention to the restoration work. On Sunday, we were told that the restoration is on and the electricity supply will be restored by Sunday evening or Monday morning,” Shahid Rehman, a resident of Nunar area of central Kashmir’s Ganderbal district, said.
Ayaz Ahmad, a resident of Ganderbal said that as of now, the power supply has been restored in just few areas in the district. “They have restored the supply to Beehama Chowk and Deputy Commissioner’s office only. All the other areas are reeling under darkness since Thursday. The administration is saying that the process of restoration is on as we speak,” he said.
In South Kashmir where the snowfall was less, the power was restored in some towns on Friday and Saturday and it is erratic while villages are still plunged into darkness.
The power to famous tourist resorts of Pahalgam, Kokernag and Acchabal in South Kashmir is yet to be restored. “The famous tourist places of Pahalgam, Kokernag and Acchabal are groping in darkness what would be situation in other areas of Anantnag district is obvious,” said Rayees Ahmad Lone of Pahalgam.
Tariq Ahmad of Larnu in Kokernag area of Anantnag district and Hilal Ahmad Shah of Dooru, Kokernag said that power to their areas is yet to be restored.
Aijaz Ahmad of Kulgam said that in Noorabad and Damhal areas of Kulgam district the HT lines are lying on the ground and the PDD has not bothered to conduct restoration work. “How much time it will take to restore power in our area is not known”, he added.
Waheed Ahmad of KelIer in Shopian district said that power has not been restored to their area since Thursday. “Wanthoo area of Shopian is in darkness for last four days, This is worst power breakdown we have seen when the snowfall was in inches only”, said Fida Hussain of Wanthoo.
Meraj Ahmad of Rajpora area of Pulwama said power has not been restored to their area yet. “The HT and LT lines that were damaged in snow are yet to be restored”, heh said. Same is the case of Malangpora area of Puwlama district.
The power-was however restored in Anantnag, Bijbehara and Dialgam towns of South Kashmir on Saturday where snowfall has not caused much damage to the transmission lines. “However since this morning it is erratic”, said Basit Ahmed Magray of Bijbehara.
“In Muniwar village on the outskirts of Anantnag town it was restored on Saturday just for 10 minutes while in Heewan Colony it is erratic since its restoration last evening “, said Yasir Ahmad.
Tajamul Islam shopkeeper in Kulgam said that the power was restored to the town on Saturday but since this morning it is erratic. In villages, the restoration work is yet to start,” he added..
“In Khudwani area of Kulgam it was restored on Saturday at 10 pm but is erratic since then”, said Meraj Ahmad Sheikh of Khudwani.
Irfan Ahmad of Shopian said that the power was restored in the town on Saturday evening but is erratic since this morning. “Same is the case with Chatpora and Pahoo in Pulwama,” said Nissar Ahmad of Chatpora.
Fayaz Ahmad, a shopkeeper in Awantipora town said that power was restored to the town last right but is erratic. “Same is the case with Tral town but villages here are also groping in darkness”, said Kounser Ahmad of Tral.
Bilal Habib of Pampore in Pulwama district said that power was restored to the town last evening but is erratic. “Same is the case with Shar Shaii in Khrew areas of the district”, said a resident, Javed Ahmad.
Chief Engineer PDD, Qazi Hashmat, told Excelsior that power was restored to South Kashmir and Srinagar. “It is erratic as we have local issues with distribution lines and power supply is less so it is being supplied in a phased manner”, he said.
The CE said that it will take 4 days to restore power n North Kashmir as there is damage to the transmission towers and lines.
Follow our WhatsApp channel
