Srinagar, Jan 17: Hakeem Muhammad Yaseen, Chairman of Peoples Democratic Front (PDF) and former minister, on Wednesday expressed deep concern over the recent hike in power tariffs, saying people are facing acute financial distress and cannot afford any increase in power tariffs. He also criticized the ongoing power crisis in the Kashmir region.
In a statement issued here, Hakeem lamented the recent power tariff hike, saying it is beyond the capacity of the poor and the middle class. “Whether in metered or unmetered areas, the financial condition of consumers is dire, and they are unable to pay their power bills at the increased rates,” he said. He called for an immediate rollback of the decision.
The PDF chairman also expressed dissatisfaction with the continued power outages in the Kashmir region, saying the consumers are facing hardships. He raised concerns about the reported extension of the lease of electricity from the Rattle Power Project in Kishtwar to Rajasthan, which he said has added to the challenges faced by the people.
According to Yaseen, various segments of the population, including students, business owners, and hoteliers are bearing the brunt of the ongoing power crisis. He criticized the decision to lease electricity from the Rattle Power Project to Rajasthan, considering the severe power crisis within Jammu & Kashmir itself. “This move undermines the rights of the local population over their natural resources,” he said.
The former minister urged the government to revoke both the recent power tariff hike order and the reported Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed in Jaipur.
