Bunjwah residents face acute power cuts for weeks together, Consumers alleged harrassment and use of abusive language by employees of PDD posted in Bunjwah

GNS ONLINE CHENAB VALLEY

SHAFQAT SHEIKH

The much-highlighted issue of unscheduled power cuts in the Bunjwah region has thrown life out of gear for residents across the Kishtwar and Doda district particularly the Bunjwah region with a population of 40000 souls. “The power supply in the area is inconsistent round the clock and has continuous shutdown from week to week in a month and more than 20 hours in a day”. A Social Activist Mohd Ashraf Wani while addressing media said that a complete shutdown continues from week to week that is likely to hit every sector of the society where unscheduled power cuts have become a headache for consumers. Adding that 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 handed in gloves and employees posted in the Bunjwah area are continually harassing the general society and creating a fear on the pretext of hiking power tariffs. Alleging that all these employees are registering power connections to innocent consumers who have not even constructed a separate house or whose house is still under construction house is still under construction by way of harassing them to collect a hefty amount from these consumers.
Adil Hussain, a local resident, said that these employees misbehave and use abusive and unparliamentary language with the consumers by way of creating fear in society. Adding that there are various complaints against these employees and allegations of corruption and misuse of electrical materials but unfortunately, the higher authorities are defending them and harassing the consumers.
The demand for electricity has increased in the Chenab valley, but the department does not have a proper system on the ground as the field staff employees are collecting huge amounts in the name of the commission. Not only power cuts, but the poles and wires installed in the Bunjwah region are also 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 to replace wooden poles without insulators and wires attached to green trees. 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.
The general society of bunjwah had demanded the personal intervention of the J&K Lieutenant Governor and Deputy Commissioner Kishtwar to personally intervene in this matter and take necessary steps in providing a better electricity supply in the Bunjwah region and taking stern action against all those employees who are continuously harassing innocent consumers by way of creating fear among them on the pretext of hiking power tariffs.
(The author is Freelance Writer and Columnist from Bunjwah Kishtwar and can be reached at freelancershafqat@gmail.com 09419974577)