ARNIA, Jun 14: Shiv Sena Hindustan J&K President Rajesh Kesri has raised serious concerns over frequent and unscheduled power cuts in border villages, stating that residents, particularly students, senior citizens and economically weaker families, are bearing the brunt of the worsening electricity situation.
The issue was highlighted during a public meeting organized by Shiv Sena Hindustan at village Jangewal in the Arnia border belt. The meeting was chaired by Pt. Rajesh Kesri and attended by residents from Jangewal and adjoining villages, who voiced their growing frustration over the irregular power supply.
Addressing the gathering, Kesri said that instead of providing relief to people living in border areas, the authorities have failed to ensure a reliable electricity supply, thereby adding to their hardships. He noted that frequent power outages during the peak summer season have made life difficult for residents, particularly the elderly, who struggle to cope with rising temperatures in the absence of electricity.
Kesri said villagers informed him that despite the installation of electronic meters and regular payment of electricity bills, power supply remains highly erratic. According to residents, electricity is disrupted every two to three hours, severely affecting daily life and causing inconvenience to households.
Expressing concern over the impact on education, Kesri said that students preparing for competitive examinations, including NEET and other academic tests, are facing significant difficulties due to recurring power interruptions. “The government speaks about promoting quality education and supporting students, but these frequent outages are creating major obstacles for young aspirants,” he said.
He urged the Power Development Department to take immediate steps to address the issue and ensure a regular power supply in border areas. If power cuts are unavoidable, Kesri demanded that authorities introduce a fixed and transparent schedule so that residents can plan their daily activities accordingly.
The Shiv Sena Hindustan leader further pointed out that a majority of families in border villages belong to economically weaker sections and cannot afford inverters or other backup systems. As a result, many households are compelled to rely on candles and emergency lighting whenever electricity is disrupted.
Calling for urgent corrective measures, Kesri appealed to the concerned authorities to ensure uninterrupted power supply in border villages, enabling residents to live with dignity and allowing students to pursue their studies without disruption.
Among those present on the occasion were Village Sarpanch Ghararam, Om Prakash, Suresh Kumar, Dheeraj Kumar, Lal Chand, Satpal, Vijay Devi, Geeta Devi, Neeru Devi and several other villagers.