Srinagar, Aug 22: The Kashmir Power Distribution Corporation Limited (KPDCL) on Saturday announced power shutdown in several parts of Kashmir division in coming days.

In a statement, Chief Engineer, KPDCL said that in order to carry out erection of poles under 33 KV line for new tap line to Govt. Press, the power supply from 33 KV Pampore-Badamibagh line to receiving stations including Badamibagh, Sonwar and Panthachowk shall remain affected on August 24, from 8AM to 11AM.

Accordingly, the feeding areas to be impacted  includes Sonwar, Shivpora, Panthachowk, Batwara, WSS Tangnar, Summerbugh, Govt. Press, GB Panth Hospital and adjoining areas.

Similarly, in view of erection of poles under SASCI Scheme and completion of punch points raised by Inspection Division for newly constructed 33 KV Nowbgh Khanda line, power supply from 33 KV Nowbugh Chadoora line to receiving stations including Chadoora, Panzan, Ranger, Wathoora shall remain affected on August 27 from 8AM to 2PM. The feeding areas to remain affected includes Sogam, Repora, Chadoora, Wathoora, Bugam, Dawlatpora, Gudsuthoo, Panzan, Lalgam, Ranger, Kathairgund, Yarikalan and adjoining areas.

Also, power supply from 33 KV Nowbugh Nagam line to receiving stations including  Nagam, Hafroo, Char-1, Char-2 shall remain affected on August 27 from 8AM to 2PM. The areas to be impacted includes Kakawring, Yousmarg, Charar-i-Sharief,  Rakhaye, Tilsera, Badipora, Nagam, Hayatpora, Hafroo, Buzgoo, Gogjipathri, Laden, Loolipora, Nagbal, Brinjin, Watkaloo and adjoining areas.

In a separate communication, Chief Engineer, Distribution, KPDCL informed that the shutdown of  33 KV Cheshmashahi-Brein Nishat line will be observed due to which power supply to Brein, Tulip Garden, Brein Pahloo, Taj Vivanta, Exchange Colony, Nishat, Handampora, Pathanbagh, Filtration plant, and adjoining areas will be affected from 09 AM to 11 AM on 24 August 2026.

Similarly, shutdown of 33 KV Chewa Tap Line of Tral-Ist Chewa and Tral Bala will be observed due to which power supply to  Chewa, Tral Bala, Bajwani, Kahlil, Bathnoor, Hayina and adjoining areas will be affected from 09 AM to 02 PM on 24 August 2026, statement added.

Srinagar, Aug 22: Peoples’ Conference chairman and MLA Handwara Sajad Gani Lone today censured government over power tariff hike in Jammu and Kashmir.

He said despite two years have been passed but not a single rupee worth of benefit in terms of free electricity has been provided to consumers.

In a post on X, Lone said: “People in Jammu and Kashmir will now have to pay more from their pockets for electricity. The regulator has approved a 6.83% hike in power tariff and says it has avoided a tariff shock. It is definitely a shock for those who were promised 200 units free in 2024 by the ruling party.

Almost two years have passed and till date not a single rupee worth of benefit in terms of free power has been passed on to the consumers.  Not only that. Load has been increased in non metered areas, which has increased the monthly bill”.

Srinagar, Aug 22: People’s Democratic Party (PDP) legislator Waheed-ur-Rehman Para on Saturday slammed government over power tariff hike, questioning chief minister Omar Abdullah that what happened to those promises made with the people of Jammu and Kashmir before coming into power.

The PDP leader while listing the current crisis said that when unemployment is at its peak, inflation is biting hard and ordinary families are struggling to make ends meet, the government has imposed a 6.83 percent power tariff hike.

In a post on X, Para said: “At a time when unemployment is at a peak, inflation is biting hard and ordinary families are struggling to make ends meet, the government has imposed a 6.83% power tariff hike. They came to power with an aspirational agenda, 200 units of free electricity, free gas and free ration.

From free tariff promises of relief to higher bills, what happened to the promise? @CM_JnK”.

Notably the revised tariff has been approved through Joint Electricity Regulatory Commission (JERC) and will remain applicable to electricity consumption from September 1, 2026, to March 31, 2027.

Srinagar, Aug 22: Leader of Opposition in the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly, Sunil Sharma, on Saturday strongly criticised the National Conference (NC)-led government over the reported 6.83 per cent increase in electricity tariffs, terming the move a betrayal of the people of Jammu and Kashmir.

Sharma said the NC had come to power with a clear promise of providing 200 units of free electricity to every household, but nearly two years after the 2024 Assembly elections, the commitment remained unfulfilled. Instead, he said, consumers were now being burdened with higher electricity bills.

“The NC government promised 200 units of free electricity to every household. But instead of fulfilling that commitment, people are now facing an increase in electricity tariffs. This is not relief; it is a betrayal of the trust placed in the government,” Sharma said.

He said the 6.83 per cent tariff hike, expected to come into effect from September 1, would further increase the financial burden on ordinary families already struggling with inflation and rising household expenses.

Sharma said the development highlighted a stark contradiction between the NC’s electoral promises and its performance in government.

“Before the elections, the promise was 200 units of free electricity; after the elections, the reality is higher electricity bills. The government must explain why the promises made to the people have not been fulfilled,” he said.

The Leader of Opposition also questioned the Omar Abdullah-led government’s commitment to the NC’s manifesto promise of providing 200 units of free electricity.

“The people of Jammu and Kashmir deserve answers, not slogans. The NC must explain where the promised 200 units of free electricity are and why, instead of fulfilling its commitment, the government is increasing the burden on consumers,” Sharma said.

Sharma warned that the BJP would continue to raise the concerns of the people of Jammu and Kashmir and hold the NC-led government accountable for the promises made during the 2024 Assembly elections.

Srinagar, Aug 22: Apni Party president Altaf Bukhari has hit out at the government over the 6.83 per cent increase in electricity tariffs in Jammu and Kashmir, saying he was “not surprised” by the move and accusing the government of taking steps that would trouble the people.

Bukhari was speaking to reporters during a felicitation function for Muhammad Syed Akhoon, who has recently joined the Apni Party.

“It was a felicitation function for Muhammad Syed Akhoon, who has recently joined our Jamaat. We all wanted to celebrate this day as a happy day,” Bukhari said.

Asked about reports that electricity bills would increase from September 1, Bukhari said, “I am not surprised at all. I think this government is made to trouble people.”

He said he would not be surprised if the government took what he described as a “selfish step”, but assured people that his party would make efforts to oppose such measures.

“Maybe they will take such a selfish step. But we assure people that we will do our best to stop these people from doing such things,” he said.

“We will see that we will not let these draconian measures to trouble people,” Bukhari added.

The remarks came against the backdrop of the Joint Electricity Regulatory Commission’s approval of an average 6.83 per cent increase in electricity tariffs, with the revised rates scheduled to take effect from September 1.

During the interaction, Bukhari also spoke about women’s safety and the recent incident in Kishtwar. He said women were not safe anywhere and described the situation as a matter of shame.

“Women are not safe anywhere. It is a matter of bad luck,” he said.

“We are ashamed. Is this Jammu and Kashmir? Is this true Jammu and Kashmir?” Bukhari added.

Referring to the incident that took place in Kishtwar the previous day, he called for the harshest punishment.

“I would like to say that the incident that took place yesterday in Kishtawar should be punished with death,” he said.

He also urged the administration and police to ensure that such cases were dealt with through fast-track proceedings so that those responsible were punished and the proceedings served as a deterrent.

“I would like to say to the administration and police that these cases should be punished on a fast track so that it is a lesson for others,” he said.

Asked about a statement by Sajjad Shaheen describing the 2014 alliance with the BJP as a “historical betrayal”, Bukhari declined to react.

“I don’t think that I should react to their statement,” he said.

Bukhari was also asked about a statement by the US ambassador that Kashmir is an important part of India. He said the statement did not surprise him.

“I don’t think that it is surprising to us,” he said.

“We are a part of India,” Bukhari said, adding that he did not want the US ambassador to merely state that Jammu and Kashmir is an important part of India.

“We don’t want the US ambassador to say that we are an important part of India. We want the people of India to understand that Jammu and Kashmir is an important part of India,” he said.

Bukhari stressed that greater attention should be paid to the sentiments and concerns of the people of Jammu and Kashmir.

“We should take care of the emotions and feelings of the people of Jammu and Kashmir,” he said.

He also called for the rights of the people of Jammu and Kashmir to be protected.

“We should take care of the rights of the people of Jammu and Kashmir,” Bukhari said.
He concluded by stressing the need to protect the lives of the people of the region.
“We should take care of the lives of the people of Jammu and Kashmir,” he said.