“CHIRAG TALEY ANDHERA”: Chenab region faces frequent unscheduled electric cuts during the upcoming winter, although receiving 200 Units of free electricity remains an unfulfilled promise

GNS ONLINE NEWS PORTAL

SHAFQAT SHEIKH

CHENAB VALLEY DECM 01:-The Chenab region is experiencing frequent unscheduled power cuts, severely impacting life in rural and hilly areas where electricity is a rarity during winter. Despite substantial electricity generation in the Chenab Valley, the power supply is erratic, with prolonged shutdowns exceeding 20 hours daily, amidst soaring tariffs.

Ashiq Hussain Wani, a resident of Bunjwah, has asserted that his complaints to the power department’s top brass have been ignored, despite the region’s winter crisis and the Choudhary Power project’s construction in 2009, which generated 20 MW of electricity. He pointed out that the area is experiencing weekly complete shutdowns, likely to impact all sectors, and unscheduled power cuts are causing consumer headaches. Additionally, the government’s inaction in addressing power pilferage and taking action against ‘power thieves’, including individuals, government departments, and influential people, has led to frequent and extended unscheduled power cuts during winter months, which have become a routine affair.

The Bunjwah region in Kishtwar district, despite being one of the most remote areas with Tehsil headquarters status, shares boundaries with Padder, Himachal, Bhalessa, and Saroor. Located 70 km from the district headquarters Kishtwar, the region lacks proper electrification, with some villages yet to experience electric lighting. The hilly terrain is prone to unpredictable weather patterns, making it challenging to forecast the weather. Electrification efforts prior to 1990 have been incomplete, with ongoing work in some areas, but no scheduled maintenance has been performed, neglecting the struggles of the local population. The concerned authorities have failed to renovate or repair damaged wooden poles and barbed wire, resulting in consumers being charged flat rates that have increased exponentially, now exceeding 1040 per month, without any corresponding improvement in electricity supply.

Babar Nafice highlighted that the Power Development Department in Bunjwah has become ineffective, with power cuts and damaged infrastructure persisting due to lack of repairs. Despite collecting substantial monthly fees, the department has failed to upgrade infrastructure, including replacing wooden poles and wires attached to trees. This inaction has resulted in frequent power cuts, and the department’s apathy has caused concern. Multiple requests have been made to the authorities, but they have ignored the issues, compelling consumers to pay monthly bills without any tangible improvements.

Bunjwah is supplied with electricity from Thathri Grid Station through the Kahara Bunjwah feeder, which diverges from Dunadi Bunjwah and Dunadi Kahara at a distance of approximately 40km from the Tehsil headquarters in Bunjwah. The existing electrical infrastructure, installed in 1990, is still awaiting renovation. In 2016, the coalition government, headed by then Chief Minister Mrs. Mehbooba Mufti, approved the Bunjwah project, which remains incomplete. Regrettably, the concerned authorities have been unresponsive, neglecting the long-standing demands of the local community. Work on the electric grid station in Bunjwah began but was halted due to unknown reasons, and no one is advocating for the timely completion of the project to alleviate the suffering of the general public.

Adil Hussain, a resident of Bunjwah, expressed concerns about the sudden surge in electricity bills, which disproportionately affects the majority of the population living below the poverty line. These individuals reside in small accommodations, typically one or two rooms, and are burdened with a substantial charge of 1040. Moreover, despite repeated requests to higher authorities to address the issue, no improvements have been made, and the local employees continue to harass the community, exploiting the situation by justifying the tariff hikes.

The marginalized consumers are willing to pay the prescribed tariffs, provided they receive consistent services without extended outages and the renovation of damaged infrastructure, including wooden poles and barbed wires, to mitigate risks and hazards. However, the government’s commitment to offer 200 units of free electricity, under the leadership of Chief Minister Shri Omar Abdullah, remains an unachieved goal, particularly with the recent tariff increase and continued unscheduled power interruptions during winter.

The underprivileged consumers respectfully solicit the personal intervention of the Honorable Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir Union Territory, Shri Omar Abdullah, to establish a panel and reevaluate the electricity tariffs in rural areas, specifically Bunjwah, which is vulnerable to snowfall and experiences prolonged power shutdowns when clouds are in the sky.

(The author is a Freelance Writer and Columnist from Bunjwah Kishtwar and can be reached at freelancershafqat@gmail.com, 9419974577).