Srinagar, July 31: Disconnection of electricity connections through smart meters over unpaid bills has triggered widespread public distress in several parts of Kashmir, with scores of consumers visiting offices of the Kashmir Power Distribution Corporation Limited (KPDCL), seeking restoration of power supply and additional time to clear their outstanding dues.
Consumers alleged that electricity connections were being disconnected automatically once bills remained unpaid, leaving many households without power despite financial hardships.
At several KPDCL offices, people, including elderly men and women, were seen requesting officials to restore their electricity connections or allow them time to arrange the pending payments.
Some consumers claimed they were unable to clear the dues because of unavoidable family expenses, unemployment and financial difficulties. They alleged that despite appealing for a few days’ time, they were informed that the restoration process could begin only after the outstanding amount was paid in full.
The disconnections have sparked criticism from affected consumers, who questioned whether the recovery mechanism was being implemented uniformly. They demanded that the government adopt a more humane approach towards economically weaker families while ensuring equal enforcement of the rules for all categories of consumers.
Several consumers described the ongoing recovery drive as harsh, alleging that the corporation was acting “like the East India Company in New Kashmir” by disconnecting electricity without considering the financial circumstances of struggling households.
Consumers appealed to the government and KPDCL to evolve a mechanism that provides deserving families with reasonable time to clear their dues instead of resorting to immediate disconnections, particularly in cases involving genuine financial distress. [KNT]
