Pulwama, Mar 02: Residents of several villages in Pulwama district have raised serious concerns over the alarming condition of power infrastructure, saying that outdated and unsafe systems continue to pose a significant threat to both life and property.
People from areas including Wasoora, Astanpora, Wahipora, Yader, Panzgam, Kulpora, Grawgund, Rakh, Zahid Bagh, Chakoora, Darbagh, and nearby localities have expressed anguish over what they describe as long-standing negligence by authorities. They claim that in many places, electric wires remain loosely tied to trees due to the absence of proper poles, resulting in dangerously low-hanging lines that have persisted for decades.
Locals said that while there has been some improvement in transformer capacity over time, the broader distribution network—particularly poles and overhead wiring—has not seen the necessary upgrades.
Aamir Ahmad, a resident of Panzgam, said the issue has been repeatedly highlighted during various Back to Village programmes, but no concrete action has followed. “We have raised this concern multiple times before officials, yet the situation remains unchanged,” he said.
Echoing similar concerns, Altaf Ahmad from Rakh said that a large proportion of electric wires in his village are supported by trees instead of poles. “Nearly 80 per cent of the wiring is tied to trees. These wires hang dangerously low, are weak, and frequently get damaged,” he said.
Another resident, Sameer Ahmad of Zahid Bagh, pointed out that overhead electric lines often come into direct contact with rooftops and roadside trees, creating a constant risk. “These low-hanging wires are a serious hazard. We have been urging the department to replace damaged lines and install proper poles, but our requests have gone unheard,” he added.
Residents from other villages also voiced similar grievances, stating that despite repeated representations to concerned authorities, no meaningful intervention has taken place.
They expressed frustration over paying increased monthly tariffs while continuing to suffer from unreliable supply and unsafe infrastructure.
The residents have urged higher authorities to take immediate notice of the situation and initiate necessary upgrades to prevent any untoward incidents and ensure reliable electricity services—(KNO)
