Bandipora erupts in protest against power crisis, 9 protests in a day

Traders gave  48 hours ultimatum to government

M T Rasool
Bandipora,Feb 01:With unrelenting power crisis people here in North Kashmir’s Bandipora District on Monday closed all the incoming roads demanding uninterrupted power supply. The residents along with traders criticized the government for not tackling the power crisis properly.

Anger is brewing among people due to the severe shortage of power. Deepening power crisis have taken a critical turn with people in various parts of Bandipora district coming to streets in protest and blocking movement of vehicular traffic by staging dharnas and demonstrations on roads sides.
People have been forced to protest day in and out. Around nine protest rallies were carried out in single day at different localities in the district against the continued power crisis and blocked the busy Srinagar-Bandipora-Sopore roads raising slogans against prolonged load-shedding and Power Development Department (PDD).
Police officers and local legislators tried to convince the protesters but in vain. The agitating protesters wanted that power officials be called to the spot.
Early on Monday morning locals in Khenusa staged protest on Sopore-Bandipora road which was followed by another protest demonstrations at Malangam, Aloosa, Kema, Onagam and Kaloosa respectively.
Later traders staged protest in Main Bandipora market halted the traffic till afternoon. However After about four hours, the blockade was lifted when the local police Officer Parvaiz Khan rushed to the spot and convinced the agitating the protesters that power and water supply will be restored. However Traders threatened agitation shutdown if didn’t improve within two days.
Traders and the people of Bandipora would be forced to come out on the streets if the situation does not improve in the next 48 hours,” Nisar Ahmed a trader leading protest in Main Bandipora Market told Kashmir Convener.
“The scenario is worse during nights as some areas witnessed complete blackout in the last two months”Nisar said.
Followed by the six protest demonstrations in main Bandipora town, people in Saderkoot,Hajin and Ajas too took to roads against the government demanding un-interrupted power supply in the  district, Pertinently people are protesting from last two months against the power crisis and within last one week people are staging protest from every locality as the power crisis are growing in the area.
People from these places, mostly women, came out of their homes around 9.30 am with lighting Gas cylinders and Lanterns blocked the Srinagar-Bandipora-Sopore road at various places.
They said that their business was severely affected by the frequent power cuts even though they pay hefty sums for power.
Fayaz Ahmed local  said that the power crisis is jeopardizing the livelihood of around 3 lakh families, while officers are enjoying their life in cozy offices.
Threatening agitation and shutdown traders appealed governor to ensure the uninterrupted power supply.
“We are appealing governor to sure proper power supply or face agitation” Protesting traders said.

People aghast
Protesting people alleged that the government had failed to handle the power crisis.  “The public and traders, entrepreneurs and workers from small and medium enterprises   are disappointed with the way the government is handling the energy crisis “They told Kashmir Convener
Interestingly, the residents alleged that the areas which are declared essential and have meters installed face the shortage of power supply, although the government had assured them round-the-clock supply.
“What to talk of commoners, Authorities have failed to provide round the clock power supply t the District hospital” said a local Mubashir Ahmed.
Meanwhile PDD Department blamed System and Operations Wing (SOW) of the department for the worsening power scenario in the district.
Executive engineer Bandipora PDD Division Muhammad Amin Told  Kashmir Convener that it is  due to the lack of  proper  grid station which  worsening the power  scenario. “Most of the Bandipora area receives power supply from Sopore which has weak transmission line most the time remains overloaded” Amin said.
“If system operations wing f PDD is commissioning the grid station power crisis in the district will be ended up” He told Kashmir Convener.
Meanwhile Nazir Ahmed Executive Engineer SOW Nazir Ahmed said that rid station will be commissioned within week’s time as department was facing some legal issue regarding Right of Way (ROW).