“CHIRAG TELA ANDHERA” Chenab valley faces acute power cuts in rural areas for weeks together; Power Cuts throwing life out of gear in Chenab valley

SHAFQAT SHEIKH

Unscheduled power cuts in Chenab Valley have thrown life out of gear for residents in Chenab valley comprising three districts. Residents of Chenab valley including Doda and Kishtwar complain that the Power Development Department and Jammu Power Development Corporation Limited have not put any fixed schedule for load shedding. “Power supply is inconsistent round the clock and has continuous shutdown from week to week in a month and more than 20 hours in a day”. Alleging that their complaints to the top brass of the power department have not yielded any results despite the whole Chenab valley and particularly Bunjwah is being hit by the crisis during the winters despite the Choudhary Power project is being constructed in the jurisdiction of Bunjwah during 2009 wherein 20 MW electricity gets produced. “

With the Power Development Department (PDD) implementing its electricity curtailment schedule in unmetered areas of the Chenab valley, darkness has increased in the majority of the villages and towns during the winter months particularly from Oct to April of every year. “Living amid the misery, Despite huge power generation potential, many Chenab valley areas yet to be electrified, consumers have to face power cuts for more than 16 to 20 hours, Natural water reservoirs in and around Kishtwar feel dry after construction of such power projects including Dul-Hasti power project “;
While interacting with Social Activist Mohd Ashraf Wani, He said that A complete shutdown continues from week to week that is likely to hit every sector in Chenab valley and even in rural areas, unscheduled power cuts have become a headache for consumers. Adding that frequent and extended unscheduled power cuts during winter months have now become a routine in the Chenab valley due to the failure of the government to take drastic steps to stop power pilferage and act against the “power thieves”, which includes common person, government departments, and influential people in the whole region.
He further added despite many repeated requests being made before higher authorities about the curtailment of electricity but until day no improvement came to be seen as both officers are hand in gloves with illegal consumers. Residents also alleged the functioning of the PDD for its failure to maintain electricity Supply even in rural areas where no particular schedule is being followed and electricity cuts are a regular feature, making people question the tall claims made by the Government after the abrogation of the article 370 from J&K regarding digital India and of streamlining the supply system in Chenab valley. Several hydroelectric power projects on the Chenab River have been constructed and made functional in the erstwhile Doda district comprising Doda, Kishtwar, and Ramban districts, commonly known as the Chenab Valley. When it comes to providing better living conditions to nearly a million people of the Chenab valley, successive governments,
Irrespective of the party, they have shown little interest in this region. The Jammu and Kashmir Government has not given preference to this region even in the power sector.
People of the Chenab valley have to face scheduled power cuts for more than 16 to 20 hours on a regular basis. Due to overloading, Power Development Department (PDD) officials go in for unscheduled power cuts for hours together as well. Despite the fact, Source revealed that the Baglihar and Dul-Hasti hydroelectric power projects, situated in the Chenab valley, are generating 840 MW electricity, and power projects having a capacity of more than 3,000 MW have been sanctioned in the area and a potential of 5,000 MW has already been identified by the state government. Adding that all three districts of the Chenab valley are merely getting 129.76 MW electricity per month, which is the lowest compared to other parts of the state. Doda district is getting just 40.17 MW per month, followed by 43.62 MW by Ramban district and 45.97 MW by KishtwarDistrict. Doda district is getting the least share of power in the Jammu region. On the other hand, Jammu district is getting around 802.70 MW of electricity every month, followed by Kathua with 299.57 MW, Samba with 122.57 MW, Rajouri with 98.44 MW, Udhampur with 82.68 MW, Reasi with 51. 9 MW, and Poonch with 47.72 MW. Source further added that the official data of the PDD was released during April last year. PDD officials think that the demand for electricity has increased in the Chenab valley, but the department does not have a proper system on the ground as the old staff employees are running illegal connections and collecting huge amounts in the name of the commission. Despite having a huge potential for electricity generation, many areas are yet to be electrified in the Chenab valley as no Central or State scheme has reached the people living in far-off areas that have suffered huge losses due to the construction of hydroelectric power projects.
The entire stretch from Baglihar in Ramban district to Pul-Doda in Doda district has started sinking and the road network has been damaged. Geological experts feel that this has happened due to the stagnant water of the Baglihar project reservoir, which has entered loose soil. After the construction of the Dul-Hasti power project, natural water reservoirs of Kishtwar town and adjoining areas dried up. The situation is so bad that people have to wait for days together to get a one-hour supply of drinking water at their homes.
Not only power cuts, the poles and wires installed by PDD in Chenab valley and particularly in Bunjwah are damaged, as they are not repaired for several years. It is a matter of concern that the Power Development Department in Bunjwah had become only a name as no improvement came to be seen on the ground. As it was not enough that electricity cuts and flat rates were routines of PDD, despite collecting huge amounts as monthly fares from consumers PDD failed in the installation of iron poles.
Eyewitness proves how PDD is behaving with inhabitants of Bunjwah as wooden poles without insulators and wires are attached with green trees. As many repeated requests were made before PDD officers and legislatures, reality differs from its fiction as they put blind eyes toward such a burning issue.
It is important to mention here that various repeated requests were made before concerned officers of PDD regarding various issues of electric cuts in Bunjwah, besides assuring for redressal of grievances, authorities forced consumers to pay monthly bills, said one Ashiq Wani of Bunjwah.
Residents of Chenab valley in general and Bunjwah, Bhalessa, Chatroo, Kishtwar, Drabshalla, Saroor, PremNagar, Bhaderwah, and adjoining areas had demanded the personal intervention of Prime Minister of India Shri. Narendra Modi and J&K Lieutenant Governor to personally intervene in this matter and take necessary steps in providing a better electricity supply to the whole Chenab valley i. have such potential of lightning the whole nation leaving itself in darkness.
{The author is Freelance Journalist, Columnist, and Socio-Political Activist from Kishtwar J&K and can be reached at freelancershafqat@gmail.com 09419974577}