Srinagar, May 12 (KNO): As the power development department has proposed a hike in power tariff, the traders here on Thursday said that rather than exercise, the department must focus on ensuring better electricity supply to the consumers.
Talking to the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), the head of trade bodies here in Kashmir have appealed to people to file suggestions and recommendations on the website with regard to the hike in power tariff.
Muhammad Yaseen Khan, head of Kashmir Economic Alliance (KEA), said that there is a need to improve the electricity supply. “In the holy month of Ramadan, people witnessed erratic power supply, which I have never seen before. First and the foremost priority are to ensure better supply to the people,” he said.
He also said that the consumers are not getting sufficient electricity. “The people, especially businessmen here have already suffered huge losses in Covid-19 and hiking the tariff at the same time without accepting the ground realities can never be a right decision,” he added.
The Kashmir Chamber of Commerce and Industries (KCCI) president told KNO that the association will also submit the suggestions about power tariff.
He also said that the proposal is in the public domain and the people must submit their suggestions and recommendations in this regard.
Pertinently, Kashmir Power Development Corporation Limited (KPDCL) has petitioned Joint Electricity Regulatory Commission (JERC), proposing a hike in power tariffs by over 12 percent for the current year—(KNO)