Locals allege neglect by PDD as winter outages worsen in Budgam village
Budgam, Dec 29, KNT: Inhabitants of Wadwan village in central Kashmir’s Budgam district have expressed strong resentment over persistent and erratic power supply during the ongoing winter, alleging official apathy despite repeated complaints.
Wadwan, located barely ten kilometres from Srinagar city, has been witnessing frequent and prolonged electricity cuts, severely disrupting daily life in the harsh cold. Locals say the situation has deteriorated compared to previous years, even after the formation of an elected government, which had promised adherence to the scheduled power supply.
Locals recalled that many had voted for the present dispensation led by Omar Abdullah with the expectation that basic services, particularly electricity during winter, would improve. However, they allege that the ground reality has turned worse, forcing people to live in near darkness for long hours.
“What makes the situation more frustrating is that Wadwan has its own receiving station, yet we do not get reliable power,” locals alleged, adding that unscheduled cuts occur multiple times a day without prior intimation. They said students, elderly people and patients are the worst affected.
The villagers further alleged that the Power Development Department has shown little seriousness towards addressing the issue. “Repeated representations and phone calls have yielded no results. It feels as if Wadwan has been completely ignored,” they said.
They termed the situation ironic, pointing out that Wadwan is considered one of the most literate villages in central Kashmir. According to locals, the village has produced over a hundred professionals including doctors, scientists and senior government officers, yet basic amenities like electricity remain elusive.
As winter intensifies, locals have urged the authorities to intervene immediately, ensure adherence to the power schedule and take corrective measures so that the village is not pushed into further hardship during the cold months. [KNT]
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