S Tahir-ul Haq
Early Times Report
BARAMULLA, May 3: Residents of dozens of villages today staged protest against National Hydroelectric Power Corporation (NHPC) for not providing proper electricity to them here in this district of North Kashmir.
Reports said that people of dozens of villages in Boniyar Tehsil today staged a massive protest at Gantamulla against the NHPC authorities for not providing proper power supply to these villages.
"Dozens of villages like Gantamulla Bala, Gantamulla Payeen, Kitchama, Chahla, Bemiyar, Pringal, Limber, Peeriniya, Burnathe, Mudanan, Bela Salamabad, Bachhi, Lari Trikanjan, Chotali, Budran, Tatamullha and other adjoining areas have been badly affected by power supply and the position has worsened," said a group of protesters.
The residents told Early Times that NHPC has failed to provide adequate electricity in these areas. They said that although winter has almost passed, but still then there is a extended curtailment in electricity. They said that the authorities are taking test of their patience.
The protesters blocked the Srinagar-Muzaffarabad road near Gantamulla Colony of Baramulla district due to which hundreds of vehicles were seen stranded on the road for many hours. The inhabitants including women and children blocked the main road here and raised slogans against the concerned authorities.
The protesters said that it is illogical that these areas have been facing unscheduled power cuts from past many years, while as the main power supply from NHPC is being passed from these areas. The protesters chanted slogans against the authorities and blocked the highway. The area witnessed massive traffic jam thereby leaving the commuters and the passengers in the vehicles to suffer for many hours.
"Due to unscheduled power cuts in their area, the people living in these villages suffer like anything. The behaviour of NHPC authorities has been deplorable. Necessary steps should be taken at the earliest to provide relief to the people of these areas," said Mohammad Yaseen, a local Gantamulla.
A local said that despite unscheduled power cuts in the evening, the erratic power supply has also affected them in the morning. He said the students cannot focus on their studies and this is despite the fact that many of them are preparing for entrance examinations.
Meanwhile, Tehsildar Baramulla visited the spot and assured protesters that the genuine demands will be redressed soon. |
