Residents of Wagoora rue hike in power tariffs, stage protest

Residents of Wagoora in Baramulla protesting against PDD. —Excelsior/Abid Nabi
Residents of Wagoora in Baramulla protesting against PDD. —Excelsior/Abid Nabi

Excelsior Correspondent
Srinagar, Feb 14: The resident of Wagoora in North Kashmir’s Baramulla district today staged a protest against the PDD authorities for a sudden increase in the monthly electricity tariff.
The residents said that while other areas are paying Rs 350 per month, they are witnessing a regular increase in the tariffs even as they have now been directed to pay over Rs 1100 per month.
“The electricity is zero and on top of that, we are now asked to pay bills that are illogical and do not have any logic. We have several areas that are paying Rs 350/- as their electricity bill per month; we were also paying the same, but then, for the last few months we are witnessing a steep rise in the same,” the protesting residents said.
The residents said that if the same continues, then they are not going to pay the bills and rather ask the PDD authorities to wind up the entire set-up of the electricity from the area.
“For domestic use, we are now made to pay huge sums, even as we don’t have such income; if PDD is adamant on making us pay the bills, then we do not need the electricity; we have been living without it, we can live without it,” the protestors said.
The residents appealed to the concerned authorities to revise their monthly bills and ensure that they are made to pay a constant amount per month. “The bill should be as per the usage in the domestic sector; we have been paying Rs 350 we will continue to do so,” the protestors said.