In PDP-NC tussle, Kupwara village reels under darkness for 3 years

Chopan Mohalla provided transformer, electric poles in 2014 but awaits installation

5 Dariya News

Srinagar 13-Mar-2017

Nearly 35 households in a remote Kupwara village are reeling under darkness for nearly three years, courtesy a tussle between NC and ruling PDP.According to locals of Chopan Mohalla in Sohipora, a 63 KV transformer and 8 tubular electric poles were allotted to the area in 2014 by the then NC MLA Kupwara Mir Saifullah, weeks before schedule for 2014 assembly elections was announced.As soon as transformer and electric poles arrived in the area in 2014, the power department snapped the electric lines from the existing transformer where from they were provided electricity earlier. This  was done to prevent the excessive load to the transformer located at main road Sohipora which used to fed Chopan Mohalla besides Checkpora, Lone Mohalla and Sofi Mohalla together.The residents had insisted that the lines should be cut to prevent overload and as such damage to the transformer.After few days, the locals of Chopan Mohalla said that when the transformer was not installed, they approached local PDD authorities and were told that some local villagers have raised objections on passing of HT line through their land to the area.

They said the objection was raised at the behest of some PDP activists who wanted to settle some political score with the locals of Chopan Mohalla."It has been more than three years since then but no electricity is provided to our area on mere pretexts. If government has a will they can take electric lines to the area no matter what it takes because it has got the powers but when you're working under political dictations nothing can move", Molvi Javid Bhat who runs a Darsgah in the area, told GNS.Last week, Bhat said that the residents after being fed up by the hollow promises, raised some funds locally and built a transformer bed and placed on it the electric transformer."Now that we have constructed the transformer bed and placed on it the transformer, authorities should wake up and provide HT connection so that we may also get electricity in this age of technology", Bhat said.

He said that while all residents can not afford lighting gas, they are using wooden torch as a result of which their families their children are suffering from chest related diseases.The villagers, Bhat said had also brought the issue into the notice of PDP MP and local MLA of Peoples conference but to no avail.He said that even a number of representations were made to the concerned Deputy Commissioner and authorities of PDD  but nothing happened.Now tell us where to go, do we have to wait for three years more till there is change of guard or will government wake up and address our miseries which are only compounding with each passing day.Deputy Commissioner Kupwara GM Dar when contacted told GNS that he will look into the matter."Since I have joined only two months back I will see to it", Dar said. (GNS)