Onlykashmir.in News Desk
The disconnection of electricity connections through smart meters over unpaid bills has triggered widespread public distress in several parts of Kashmir, with scores of consumers thronging the offices of the Kashmir Power Distribution Corporation Limited seeking restoration of supply and additional time to clear their outstanding dues.
Consumers across the Valley alleged that electricity connections were being cut off automatically the moment bills remained unpaid, leaving many households without power despite genuine financial hardships that had prevented timely payment. At several KPDCL offices, people, including elderly men and women, were seen approaching officials in person, pleading either for immediate restoration of their connections or for a short window of time to arrange the pending payments before their supply was cut.
A number of consumers said they had been unable to clear their dues on time because of unavoidable family expenses, unemployment and mounting financial difficulties that have squeezed household budgets in recent months. They alleged that despite appealing for a few additional days, they were bluntly informed that the restoration process could only begin once the outstanding amount was paid in full, leaving little room for negotiation even in cases of genuine distress.
The disconnections have drawn sharp criticism from affected consumers, many of whom questioned whether the automated recovery mechanism introduced through smart metering was being implemented uniformly across different categories of consumers or falling disproportionately on economically weaker households. They demanded that the government adopt a more humane and considered approach toward families facing financial hardship, while still ensuring that enforcement of billing rules remains equal and consistent for everyone.
Several consumers went further, describing the ongoing recovery drive as excessively harsh, with some alleging that the corporation was behaving “like the East India Company in New Kashmir” by disconnecting electricity supply without adequately considering the financial circumstances of struggling households. The comparison, though pointed, reflected the depth of frustration among consumers who feel the automated system leaves no space for human discretion.
Consumers have appealed to the government and KPDCL to evolve a more compassionate mechanism that gives deserving families reasonable time to clear their dues in instalments, rather than resorting to immediate and blanket disconnections, particularly in cases involving demonstrable and genuine financial distress among vulnerable households across the Valley.
