Srinagar, 29 January:(KNS)   The Jammu and Kashmir National Conference on Friday said the erratic power supply  is tormenting the people of Kashmir, saying the  promise of ruling BJP that electricity supply for winters would be “far better than the previous year’s” has fallen flat.

 

On the contrary the demand for electricity supply in valley continues to outstrip its supply and people are not just without heat in the ongoing harsh winters, but losing business, study time and health, said Party’s Additional Spokesperson Sarah Hayat Shah while expressing concern over the erratic power supply in Srinagar. “Making electricity available to each household in Jammu and Kashmir was used as a prelude to the nullification of state’s status. It was also promised to the people that the scenario of power would be far better than the previous years. The reality is before us. It goes without saying that the state of affairs of power this year has been most terrible, revealing the failure of ruling BJPs failed Vikas Model, if there was any at first place,” she said.

 

“An electricity schedule was widely circulated by the concerned authorities but the concerned department has failed to abide by its own widely publicized schedule.  The situation in the metered and non metered areas is no different. The power supply is playing hide and seek with the consumers in both areas. The announced power curtailment schedule according to which non-metered areas would face 4-hour and metered areas 3-hour curtailment per day has gone for a toss. On the other front, the administration also failed to ensure surplus supply of transformers to cater the need during the winter season,” she said.

 

She also urged for mechanism for enhancing utility subsidy to BPL consumers including people associated with handicraft, tourism and industries sector, saying the government was duty bound to ensure universal energy access to people particularly poor.(KNS)