Srinagar, June 7: Notwithstanding government claims of paying extra attention towards the Shahr-e-Khaas development, the old City is facing worst of the power woes putting the dwellers of this congested area to inconvenience in the scorching summer.
 The residents of areas like Nowhatta, Naid Kadal, Nawa Kadal, Zaina Kadal, Safa Kadal, Chattabal and Eidgah said there has been no let up from power cuts since the onset of winter last year when the “long power curtailment program was announced.”

THE DARKNESS FACTOR
 The consumers said they get no more then 12 hours of power a day while evening, night and day curtailment programs continue to be the same.
 As per the complainants, they face two evening curtailments from 6 PM to 10 PM a week, and two night curtailments from 10 PM to 5 AM.
 During daytime, the old City dwellers said, they bear curtailment on alternate days from 8 AM to 1 PM and 1 PM to 6 PM.

PUBLIC WOES
 “If winter curtailment is considered the worst, then we are getting the worst even during the summers,” said a fumed consumer from Firdous Colony area of Eidgah.
 He said apart from the scheduled curtailments, they face unscheduled cuts of around two to three hours a day.
 “As if the authorities are taking a revenge from the people of Shahr-e-Khaas that they have subjected us to worst of the power crisis,” said a Kashmir University student living in Nowhatta area.
 He said the student community finds it difficult to study in the absence of electricity when fans don’t operate.
 “We had requested the concerned MLA to get the power supply improved in the wake in wake of ongoing examinations but these people (government) don’t actually seem bothered towards our welfare,” said a resident of Khanyar locality.

THE IRONY
 The power supply to the old City is affected at a time when the coalition government has been pledging to pay “extra attention” towards the development of Shahr-e-Khaas vis-à-vis revival of its lost glory.
 Given the National Conference’s 8/8 success in the Assembly elections
 when the party won all the City seats, observers said, the NC led government could pump in extra efforts to “make the City revive its lost glory.”

PROTESTS  FEARED
 Security experts said the continued power curtailment could trigger protests in the area.
 “At a time when the government is trying to avoid to any public resentment, the power issue may attract people to streets,” feared a senior police official.

MARRIAGE SPOILSPORT
 With marriage season on full bloom, the prospective families complained of facing tremendous inconvenience.
 “We couldn’t afford to hire generator. Finally the Mehandi ceremony had to be celebrated under lighting gas,” complained Arshid Ahmed, a resident of Hawal adding it was difficult to manage guests in the absence of lighting and fans.

PDD SPEAKS
 The Power Development Department officials said only the “non metered areas” were facing power curtailment due to “deficit in power imports.”
 “Once the old City areas get metered their curtailments will be reduced,” a senior official said.
 He however refuted that any unscheduled cuts were being made in the Shahr-e-Khaas.

Lastupdate on : Tue, 7 Jun 2011 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Tue, 7 Jun 2011 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Wed, 8 Jun 2011 00:00:00 IST