This winter, people were expected to witness change, if not elsewhere, but concerning the power supply scenario, because they have been facing power woes during the winter for ages and despite so many efforts, especially repeated promises, by the subsequent Governments, people didn’t get to see any change. After every promise made to them, the change did not come. The point is that no matter who was in power, no matter what they ended up achieving, what they could not do and failed every time they tried to, has been the winter power scenario in Kashmir.
However, with improved service delivery post-2019, a lot has been done in J&K, which shows how effective the Governance and service delivery mechanism turned out to be. The people were expecting the same in the winter power scenario, but that turned out to be the same as it was a decade ago: people found the winter blues waiting for them in the shape of so many challenges, especially the power cuts. With the start of the winter season, the hopes of people to see improvement in the power supply this year have been shattered. They are coming to terms with it, coming out of a dream to witness, if not round-the-clock power supply in winter, at least 18 hours a day.
One might ask what the reforms, which were carried out in the power sector, ended up achieving, because a lot was said when the Government was planning to unbundle the PDD in two different wings, apart from initiating several other measures, but what is it that has changed because, on the ground, it is all how it used to be earlier? This is not what people were looking forward to and the Government needs to take note of it. They cannot let people down. They are duty-bound to ensure an improved power scenario in Kashmir. We are quite sure that LG Manoj Sinha would be aware of the power scenario in Kashmir, and time and again he has been making it clear that people should get seamlessly what they are paying for. It is the time for deliverance, Mr Sinha because the harsh winter is here.
