Rehan Qayoom Mir
Srinagar, Feb 13: The residents of Zaffran Colony, Pantha Chowk Srinagar expressed their strong resentment over the unscheduled power cuts especially during morning scheduled hours and urged the Chief Engineer Kashmir and other concerned officials to look into the matter.
Dozens of residents of Zafran Colony areas that include Friends Lane, 1, 2, and 3, Bilal Lane, Iqbal Sector A and B, said that the area is fully metered and cabling has been completed as well. “Digital meters, new transformers and cables have been installed last year. We are paying out monthly power bills as per the meter readings. But unfortunately, the power department doesn’t follow the proper schedule especially in the morning hours,” said Showkat Ahmed, a resident.
He said that the Chief Engineer Kashmir, who has assured no unscheduled cuts in the areas that are fully metered should look into the matter on priority basis as the inhabitants are facing immense issues due to the pesky power cuts in morning hours.
Asifa Bashir, a resident said that she has been observing that the power department resorts to unscheduled cuts in the morning hours. “Power remained off from till 8:45 am while it was supposed to come at 8 am and again power was snapped at 10:45 am as it was supposed to go off at 12 noon,” she said, adding that “our monthly bill is more than Rs 1500 as per the meter reading and still the department is resuming to unscheduled cuts.”
Other residents also expressed anger against the power department. “Earlier there was an excuse that hooking takes place. Now that the entire area has been covered under cabling and new transformers have been installed and started as well. There is no room for hooking or any other way of stealing the power and yet the department resorts to unscheduled cuts,” said Lateef Ahmed Mir, a resident.
Majority of residents of Zafran Colony sought immediate intervention of Kashmir Chief Engineer, Assistant Executive Engineer (AEE) Pantha Chowk to check why there are unscheduled power cuts in the colony especially during morning hours. “If department fails to check the issue, we will approach the Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinhaji over the issue,” a group of elderly residents said. (KNO)
