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Powering Kashmir
This winter electricity has been at the centre of the political discourse in Kashmir. This happened first after the government announced a curtailment schedule that drastically reduced the supply of electricity to Valley. Both metered as well as unmetered areas were slapped with a new load-shedding schedule that caused great unease in the Valley heading into deep chill of winter. However, while the people were hopelessly waiting for the government to review the schedule, the snowfall on January 6 send the Valley into complete blackout for three days on end. Government was found off-guard and it took the help of the Power Grid Corporation of India to get the electricity back into our homes. Ever since, while the government has refused to review the curtailment schedule, the power supply has held through the fresh snowfall. The debate about power in Valley, however, doesn’t stop with availability of the electricity through winter.
It is a much larger debate about the inability of the state to meet its domestic demand for power out of its own water resources. The issue is simple and it is this: we are a state which exports electricity but purchases power at a hefty cost for its own consumption. The logic is inverted and needs to be straightened out. This calls for the government to act. The government’s plan to buy Salal and Dulhasti back from NHPC is an ambitious goal. But it is a goal that needs to be pursued with determination. It is time that Kashmir gets its due share from its water resources. But together with this, we need to create a public debate on the issue and put true facts on the issue in public domain. This can also go a long way to mobilize a strong public opinion in its favour, not only in the state but across the country too.
By Chasfeeda Shah
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