Power crisis grips Baramulla: Residents, businessmen aghast

Baramulla, Oct 15: The residents and businesses of north Kashmir’s Baramulla district are grappling with the impact of unscheduled power cuts, causing widespread distress among them.
In Baramulla town, the residents from both metered and non-metered areas have expressed dismay over unscheduled electricity curtailments.
According to locals, even the areas equipped with smart meters are receiving only 2 to 3 hours of electricity, while non-metered areas often get less than 1 hour.
Mudassir Rashid, a resident of Baramulla, voiced his frustration, saying the government’s promise of uninterrupted power supply in areas with smart meters remains unfulfilled. “The department urged us to install smart meters, promising improved conditions. Now, we believe not having meters might be a better option. The administration needs to fulfill its commitments,” he said.
Similar complaints have surfaced from villages in the Uri belt, Kandi belt and Rafiabad areas. Even in Sopore, the residents have expressed concerns about unannounced power cuts in both the town and its outskirts.
“Our area has smart meters, yet we face prolonged power cuts. If curtailments are necessary, they should be minimal to avoid severe inconvenience to the residents,” said Altaf Ahmad, a resident of Sopore. He expressed apprehension about the situation worsening with the arrival of winter.
Firdous Ahmad, a business owner in Sopore’s industrial area, said he faces substantial losses due to prolonged power cuts. “Massive curtailments have led to significant financial setbacks, and if this continues, 70 percent of industrial businesses will shut down within days,” he said, adding that industries are only getting 2-3 hours of electricity despite having a hotline.
He criticised the Power Development Department, saying the PDD consistently uses the excuse of low generation and high demand every year. “Every year, they promise better power supply, but it has all been in vain. We simply demand a regular and scheduled power supply to sustain businesses,” he said, adding that fruit businesses, cold storages, and various other enterprises are bearing the brunt of these power outages which have severely impacted their operations.
Bashir Ahmad Shah, the Executive Engineer of the PDD in Baramulla, assured that the issue will be resolved in the coming days. He said the department anticipates receiving more power supply from the northern grid, and the problem would be addressed within 7-8 days.
“Local power generation has significantly decreased due to the depletion of water in the Jhelum River, affecting the entire district. Currently, local generation is only 100 megawatts,” he explained.
The EXEN PDD added that the department needs to purchase additional power supplies from the northern grid to meet the rising demand. “Previously, the allocation was 800 megawatts, and now it has been increased to 1200 megawatts. We are also in talks to secure more power supply from the northern grid,” he said.