Reshinagri Shopian residents ‘aghast’ over surge in power tariff
Shopian: The residents of Reshinagri area of south Kashmir’s Shopian district are up in arms against the Power Development Department (PDD) for hiking their power tariffs every month. The locals have demanded authorities to reconsider its decision.
The residents of the Reshinagri on Tuesday staged a peaceful protest and demanded intervention of the government to reconsider the decision.
The protestors alleged that the authorities have been sending inflated bills after enhancing consumption load without carrying out any survey and every month around Rs 200-300 are being increased in the bills.
They said that their monthly tariff has been increased from 500 to around 1800 in the last two years and this huge increase is taking a heavy toll on locals, who are financially weak.
Ghulam Hassan Mochi, a local resident claimed that he is residing in a single room and despite that he is getting a monthly bill of Rs 1500 and the same is the case with many others.
He said that the tariff has been increased to an unaffordable level and despite that government has been increasing it continuously.
Tahir Ahmad, a local BJP leader who was part of the protest said that on what basis power tariff is being hiked when infrastructure isn’t being upgraded at all and low lying lines that are without poles continue to pose a threat for locals.
He said that NC in their manifesto had claimed that they will provide free electricity to locals but against that the tariff is being increased frequently.
He said that in the past five years people who are dependent on the horticulture sector have faced losses due to different reasons and they aren’t in a position to submit their bills.
Other people part of the protest said that at a time when unemployment is at its peak, the government is putting extra burden on the financially weak families.
They said that they have brought the issue in notice of concerned authorities but nothing has been done in this regard as of now.
They appealed to the PDD that they should revisit their decision so that people won’t have to suffer.
They have sought intervention from LG Manoj Sinha, CM Omar Abdullah and other authorities in this regard.
