Hakeem Yaseen decries worsening power scenario in Kashmir

Srinagar, Apr 27: Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Front (PDF) and former minister, Hakeem Muhammad Yaseen on Saturday voiced grave concern over the deteriorating power situation in Kashmir, lamenting that the people are enduring severe hardships due to unscheduled and prolonged power cuts.
In a statement issued here, Hakeem expressed deep apprehension regarding the declining availability of electricity, blaming the government for its “utter failure” to manage adequate power supply for the people of Kashmir.
“In a welfare state, the government cannot shirk its responsibility to provide essential services to its citizens, regardless of financial constraints,” the PDF chairman said. He highlighted that the grim power scenario has severely impacted every sector, particularly industrial units, hoteliers, and the student community.
The former minister urged the Lieutenant Governor, Manoj Sinha to allocate generous funds for the purchase of additional electricity from NHPC and other power corporations. He demanded a thorough inquiry into why the Power Development Department (PDD) has failed to achieve the desired outcomes from the multi-crore smart metering project. Despite assurances of 24-hour power supply in metered areas, Yaseen lamented that the PDD has subjected consumers to significant hardships due to unscheduled and prolonged power cuts.
Meanwhile, Hakeem criticised Kashmir Power Distribution Corporation Limited (KPDCL) for failing to fulfill its promises of supplying uninterrupted power to smart metered areas. “There is a need for immediate action to address the power crisis and ensure the provision of reliable electricity to meet the minimum requirements of consumers,” he said.