Srinagar, Apr 13 (KNO): Residents of Shariefabad, Durbal, and Hanjik staged a protest on Friday against what they called a “sudden implementation” of tariff hikes by the Power Development Department (PDD) in their area.
Several residents of the area, according to the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) said that the decision has led to exorbitant monthly bills ranging from Rs 800 to 1300, and then 1300 to 2100, causing significant financial strain on the population in the area.
Expressing their frustration and anger, protesters accused PDD officials of imposing inflated charges without prior consultation or justification, stating that the abrupt increase in tariffs has hit the residents in the area hard, prompting them to voice their grievances loudly and demand immediate action from authorities.
The protesters, while demonstrating, also marched towards the Grid Station where protestors reminded the officials of promises made during the construction of the Power House on their land.
The protesters claimed that they were assured of free electricity in exchange for their land. Moreover, they also recounted a tragic incident in which their children lost their lives due to a high-tension line (HT) falling down.
The aggrieved residents emphasised that they had fulfilled their end of the bargain by providing land for the Power House's construction, but that alleging that the authorities had failed to honour their commitment of free electricity.
They said that the loss of lives in the tragic incident only exacerbated their sense of betrayal and injustice.
Protesters vowed to continue their agitation until their demands are met.
They called for a rollback of the tariff hikes and urged the authorities to fulfill their promises as compensation for the sacrifices made by the local community for the construction of the power house.
“We have made sacrifices, we gave our land and some received compensation, which was just peanuts, while there are many who haven’t received anything yet,” said Arif Ahmad, a local resident of the area.
Altaf Ahmad, another local of the area, said that the move by the PDD authorities in the area is injustice and betrayal with them, as they were promised a lot when they gave land for the power house.
“We have land but that has no value as there are a number of high-tension wires over it. Who will buy that? At least we had hoped for the electricity, but I think they are now trying to snatch that as well”, he said.
Meanwhile, a senior PDD official told KNO that on receiving the information from the police station Parimpora, they went to the grid station, where around 200 people were protesting inside the premises of the power house.
“To my knowledge, it may not be possible if someone has given his land for the construction of a grid and compensation has not been provided. And we also don’t have any such example where people are given free electricity and I don’t think that is possible”, the official said—(KNO)