Pulwama residents ‘aghast’ over surge in power tariff
Alleges their tariff increased three times in last two months
Pulwama: The residents of different areas of south Kashmir’s Pulwama district are up in arms against the Power Development Department (PDD) for hiking their power tariffs every month. The residents demanded authorities to reconsider the decision.
The residents of the different areas of Tral and Pulwama said that the authorities have sent inflated bills after enhancing consumption load without carrying out any survey.
They said that their monthly tariff has been increased from 500 to around 1800 in the last one year and this huge increase was already taking a heavy toll on locals, who are financially weak.
They said that this month they increased the tariff to Rs 1867 which is unaffordable for those who are majorly working as laborers and farm workers.
Yasir Ahmad, a resident of Tral said that the area is facing unscheduled power cuts as they get supply of few hours only but the tariff at the same time is being increased every month.
He further said that if there would have been adequate supply then they wouldn’t have been against the decision of hiking the power tariff.
He said that on what basis power tariff is being hiked when the infrastructure isn’t being upgraded at all and low lying lines without poles continue to pose threat for locals.
Javid Ahmad, another consumer from Litter area of the district said that in the last year or two, the government has increased tariffs at least 4-5 times and it has been tripled in the last one year only and the government must think of poor people before finalizing such a decision.
He said that when the government has failed in upgrading power infrastructure and in providing scheduled power supply then on what basis tariffs are being increased.
The locals said that they have brought the issue into the notice of concerned authorities but nothing has been done in this regard as of now.
The residents appealed to the PDD to revisit their decision so that people won’t have to suffer.
They have sought intervention of LG Manoj Sinha, MD PDD and District Magistrate Pulwama Dr Basharat Qayoom in this regard.
