Sopore, Jul 12 (KNO): Industrial Estates, Sopore in north Kashmir's Baramulla district has plunged into a deep crisis due to severe shortage of electricity leaving the local business community in a lurch.
The town's industrial estates were known far and wide for their thriving businesses, providing employment opportunities to numerous individuals and driving the region's economic growth. However, erratic power supply in the area has become great cause of concern.
Holding a strong protest demonstration against the power development department, the employees at Industrial Estates took out a massive protest march towards PDD office at Baba Raza Sopore amid sloganeering against the department for failing to provide them adequate power supply.
Talking to news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), President Industrial Estates, Javeed Bhat said that since the power crises has tightly gripped the Sopore town.
“Industrial Estates is bearing the brunt of power crisis. The sales has dipped and the industry is suffering losses which amounts to a staggering Rs 1- Rs 2 Cr per day", Bhat said.
While requesting the authorities to redress the issue at the earliest, Bhat said that industry has at least 350 employees and now the situation is totally distressing as everyone is feeling frustrated.
"We hardly get 3-4 hour electricity a day", he said, adding that “We are now on the verge of shifting the sector to Jammu.”
The protestors said, that the owners, who had invested their blood and sweat in establishing their businesses, are facing an unprecedented challenge. "Every passing day without electricity results in sales dip and losses amounting to crores of rupees", they said. “We apprised the power development department (PDD) Sopore to redress the issue, however, it seems that the pleas fall on the deaf ears.”
The protestors, however, warned of massive agitation if their demand is not met and urged administration to intervene into the matter so that they may not face any massive protest in the days ahead.
Meanwhile, an official at the Power Development Department, Sopore told KNO that as promised, they are doing their best to provide 24×7 supply to the industries for smooth functioning. “We are following the curtailment scheduled set by the top officials. We will still take up the matter with the higher ups.”
Notably, the power crises has gripped the northern town at a time when government is installing smart meters in the area despite multiple protests against the move—(KNO)