Kanigam residents demand immediate charging of newly installed transformers
Repeated breakdowns of existing transformer leave village without power for days; locals urge authorities to act without delay
Pulwama: The residents of Kanigam in Rajpora hamlet of south Kashmir’s Pulwama district have appealed to the Power Development Department (PDD) for the immediate charging of two newly installed distribution transformers (DTs), which remain non-functional months after installation.
According to locals, the existing 63 kV distribution transformer in their area has suffered damage five times in a single week, plunging the entire village into darkness and severely disrupting daily life. Despite repeated complaints, no concrete action has been taken to provide a permanent solution.
“Two new DTs were installed by M/S Techno Company under the Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme (RDSS) back in June this year, but to our utter disappointment, they have not been charged till date,” said one of the residents. “Every time our old transformer breaks down, we are forced to spend several days without electricity. This has become an unbearable situation.”
Locals said that the delay in charging the new transformers reflects official apathy, particularly when all installation work has already been completed.
“Our area falls under Sub Division Newa, and we have been approaching both the company and the concerned department for months, but they keep shifting responsibility,” another resident said.
The residents also expressed frustration over what they described as unfair treatment, despite their compliance with billing and payment norms.
“Our village has 100% billing efficiency, and electricity tariffs have already been doubled over the last two years. Still, we are suffering due to the negligence of officials,” they said.
They added that the power disruptions have affected students preparing for exams, small businesses dependent on electricity, and the general well-being of the people. “We pay our bills regularly, yet we are forced to live in darkness. This is unjust,” a local shopkeeper lamented.
Urging the authorities to intervene, the residents appealed to the higher-ups in the Power Development Department to ensure that the newly installed transformers are charged immediately.
“We request the department to take swift action so that the people of Kanigam are relieved from continuous hardship and can finally get a stable power supply,” the residents said.
