Kupwara: Expressing dismay and serious resentment against the Power Development Department, residents of north Kashmir’s Kupwara district Monday alleged that despite widespread power outages throughout the day owing to ongoing inclement weather conditions, the smart meters installed at many places continue to show increasing electricity units’ consumption.
The residents of Kupwara town, as per an independent news portal, said that for the last 2 days, they haven’t received any significant electricity but checking the smart-meters installed has left them shocked as the newly-adopted gadgets have reflected a steady increase in power utilization.
A resident Mohammad Umar who expressed his anguish over the increasing number of units consumed despite power outage said that he has been keeping a regular watch on the online readings but it was surprising to see 27.4 units on a day when entire valley including Kupwara district was reeling under complete darkness given the heavy snowfall.
Another resident, Altaf Ahmad Wani reportedly said that he too received 37 units despite no electricity throughout the day.
Waseem Peer, another local, also complained about the increasing consumed units during the daytime ‘while there was not even a blink of electricity’.
JKNC Kupwara Town Youth Leader Adv Umar Malik echoing the similar concern said that given heavy snowfall, electricity wasn’t restored timely but the residents have been witnessing steep increase in the utilization of power units.
Malik castigating the department concerned said that it was a concern for locals for the online services of the department, which, according to him, are itself putting their credibility in question.
He urged the authorities to look into the matter at an earliest to put the issue to rest once for all.
The JKPDD as well as KPDCL, as per the report have feigned ignorance about the matter. Both the offices’ have suggested contacting the smart-meter officials in this regard, the report said. (KT)
