Rights body issues notice to power dept over poor supply

Tribune News Service

Srinagar, November 13

Taking note of the erratic electricity supply and unscheduled cuts in Kashmir, the J&K State Human Rights Commission (SHRC) on Tuesday issued a notice to the chief engineer of the power development department directing him to file his report within a week.

In the report, the chief engineer concerned has been asked to specify the reasons behind unscheduled power cuts in Kashmir division without prior notice by the department.

These orders were issued on Tuesday by the State Human Rights Commission in a complaint filed by a local, which reads that as the winter has begun with the recent snowfall, the only power supply agency in J&K, i.e. the power development department, has started unscheduled and irregular power cuts in the metered and non-metered areas of the Kashmir valley. As a result, the residents are facing immense hardships with a substantial drop in the day and night temperatures during the winter months.

“Admitting the complaint, SHRC Chairman Justice Bilal Nazki (retd) issued a notice to power development department, Kashmir, Chief Engineer Hashmat Qazi for filing his report within a week on the compliant regarding unscheduled and irregular power cuts during winter,” a statement issued by the State Human Rights Commission secretary said.

“The chief engineer has also been directed to specify as to why power cuts are affected without notice,” the SHRC statement added.