South Kashmir residents ‘shocked’ over surge in power tariff

South Kashmir residents ‘shocked’ over surge in power tariff

Urge PDD to reconsider decision

Jahangeer Ganaie

Pulwama, Jan 22 (KNO): Residents of several areas in south Kashmir are up against Power Development Department (PDD) for hiking their power tariffs every month and have demanded reconsideration of the decision.

Ab Rashid, a resident of the Litter area, told news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) that the authorities have inflated bills after enhancing consumption load without carrying out any survey.

According to him, some consumers have experienced a substantial increase of Rs 1050 to 1300 per month.

“Unscheduled power cuts are taking a heavy toll on us and on the other hand, the PDD is increasing our electricity bills,” said Subzar Ahmad of Shopian.

He said that the residents of the area were shocked after receiving their bill wherein both load agreement and bill amount had been increased without taking consent from the consumers.

He said people living in villages are financially weak and this will put more burden on them.

Ab Hamid, another consumer from Anantnag, said that in the last year or two, the government has increased tariff at least 4-5 times and the government must think of poor people before making such a decision.

He said that there must be separate rates for APL and BPL ration card holders and a separate schemes must be devised for the same.

The residents appealed PDD that they should revisit their decision so that people won’t have to suffer—(KNO)