Kulgam: Routine power shutdowns across several villages in south Kashmir’s Kulgam district have sparked growing public outcry, with villagers reporting severe hardship, especially among the sick and farming communities.
Many areas in the district have been witnessing daily electricity cuts, sometimes stretching beyond the officially declared hours. Patients who rely on oxygen support are among the worst hit. “Without power, the oxygen concentrators stop. We had no choice but to buy a generator. It costs us Rs 1500 every day for petrol,” said a family member of a critical patient from Sonigam.
The distress extends to farmers, who are currently in the middle of spraying pesticides and irrigating fields, activities heavily reliant on electric-powered equipment. “We need electricity to operate sprinklers and pesticide pumps. These shutdowns are ruining our entire schedule,” said a farmer.
Officials in the Power Development Department (PDD) have acknowledged the disruptions. A senior official said the outages are a result of ongoing infrastructure work. “We are laying new wires and erecting poles. The shutdown is unfortunate but has become necessary,” he stated, adding that shutdown orders are issued from higher authorities.
However, villagers are unconvinced by the explanations. “If shutdowns are scheduled till 2 PM, why does the power remain off till 4 or 5 PM? This is clearly being done to ease the work of private contractors,” alleged locals from Mohammadpora and Redwani.
They questioned the timing and planning of the power cuts, arguing that critical services and public convenience should not be sacrificed for administrative ease. “We are not against development, but it must be planned in a way that people do not suffer, especially those whose lives depend on electricity,” said another resident from Qaimoh. [KNT]
