Srinagar, Mar 4, : The State Industrial Development Corporation (SIDCO) in Lassipora area of South Kashmir’s Pulwama district, the biggest industrial estate falls in south Kashmir is battling with power crisis.
Power Development Department has resorted to unscheduled power from early winter leaving unit holders high and dry.
In most parts of the Kashmir valley including summer capital Srinagar, power woes during winter season cause immense inconvenience to the general public and also to business community. The season however is almost over but the power crisis continues to bother unit holders particularly.
Unit holders here in Lassipora estate have complained that they face unscheduled power outage thrice a day which has badly hit their business.
Shameem Ahmad an entrepreneur said it is surprising that Power Development Department is begin to cut power three times a day even when winter is over.
He expressed resentment over the power outage causing them lot of inconveniences and business slump.
According to authorities in the Power Development Department, the department is able to deliver 1,200 MW in winter months against the demand for 1,600 MW to provide round-the-clock electricity supply. The curtailment of power supply usually takes place in winter months every year.
A delegation of industrialists said it is bizarre and deplorable that power crisis is taking place inside industrial estates. The machinery worth lakhs of rupees has spoiled due to unscheduled power cuts in the SIDCO complex Lassipora.
“We already suffered a lot due to clampdown and internet shutdowns in Kashmir valley and now the electricity crisis is further compounding our problems,” said Mohammad Ashraf a labourer. He added that Power Development Department does not have any authority to curtail electricity in industrial estates.
An industry expert said unit holders were paying electricity dues properly and on time and yet PDD has resorted to power cuts. “Government had promised it would supply uninterrupted electricity to industrial areas but the current crisis has proved all these promises as hoax.”
He said that if the power curtailment persists, business community will incur huge losses. As per a media report, Lassipora consist more than three hundred functional units. Lassipora estate has a power grid in its vicinity. It trifurcates into three feeders: Arihal, Pulwama and the Industrial Estate of Lassipora that SIDCO officially owns. The estate receives a share of 16 MW against its routine requirement of around 20 MW.
Unit holders complained that PDD is not delivering even 16 MW, minimum requirement for the estate. They demand 20 MW’s to run their units efficiently.
Industrialists blame PDD for giving false assurances that once the winter is over the power curtailments will also go. “Winter is almost over but there are still power woes, which is surprising,” said Majid Ahmad a unit holder. He blamed that the electricity supply in the estate remains cut off from 6 pm to 10 pm.
Another unit holder Gulzar Ahmad said: “Many units have turned sick owing to many reasons mainly because of power crisis. In my vicinity a unit holder suffered a heavy loss due to damage to his machinery. The power crisis and fluctuations had damaged his machinery worth crores. He could not bear the losses and eventually wind up the unit.”
A senior official at PDD said the power curtailments have been reduced since the beginning of March. “There will be no curtailments from now on wards,” he assured.Post of ARTO Kupwara vacant since a year
Aatif Qayoom
Srinagar: Transporters and drivers are facing a tough time in Kupwara to complete the documentation process of their vehicles due to the post of ARTO lying vacant since a year.
The concerned people have appealed authorities to look into the issue and post an officer at earliest.
According to Kashmir News Service (KNS), the chair of ARTO in district Kupwara has remained vacant since a year resulting in hardships to the transporters who are visiting the office regularly to complete the different processes related to their vehicles.
Though the department had given additional charge of ARTO Kupwara to ARTO Baramulla who is not able to cater to the official engagements at twin districts, transporters alleged.
“We desire to apply for driver post in various departments for which driving license is must but due to non-availability of ARTO we are unable to get driving license from the concerned office”, said an applicant.
Though local transporters have repeatedly appealed authorities to look into the issue and address the issue.
RTO Kashmir Ikramullah Tak told KNS that he has written to Government regarding the same.
Power crisis hit industrial units badly in Lassipora
