Government figures of power consumption bogus: Civil Society

Government figures of power consumption bogus: Civil Society

Kashmir pays more, Jammu receives more

Srinagar, Feb 12: The recent disclosure of government that it has received highest revenue from Jammu as compared to Kashmir from power consumption has evoked a sharp criticism from  civil society and business community who term it as ‘fraud and bogus’.

In a written reply sought by Panthers Party member, the  Minister in charge Power department informed the state assembly that Kashmir region consumed  6854.94 Mega units (MUs) of power while Jammu region consumed 5252.72 (MUs) in 2012-13. The Minister also informed the lower house that in 2011-12 Kashmir region consumed 6136 (MUs) of power while Jammu region consumed only 4266 (MUs).

The traders and civil society members have termed the figures as baseless and said that government is trying to create the divisions between Jammu and Kashmir by issuing such ‘baseless’ statements.

“The official figures about the consumption and realization of revenue are manipulated. Such false statements are being made just to create a division between Kashmir and Jammu,” said Kashmir Centre for Social and Development Studies (KCSDS) member, Shakeel Qalandar.

He said that the revenue which was presented by the concerned minister was presented in a ‘non logical manner’.

He should have distributed it in divisions as state comprises of various departments like Railway, Army, Lift irrigation and others.

He added that despite the fact that the valley witnesses the harshest curtailment schedule both in the metered as well as unmetered areas; the domestic consumers in Kashmir on an average have been paying more tariff than domestic consumers of Jammu region over the years.

Subsequently during the financial years 2008-09, 2009-2010, 2010-2011, 2011-2012, 2012-2013 and 2013-2014 (up to ending October, 2013), the revenue realization in the domestic category of consumers in Kashmir region has been 74.67 crore, 99.39 crore, 122.02 crore, 179.79 crores, 238.89 crores and 146.12 crores respectively in comparison to 52.67 crore, 63.06 crore, 83.21 crores, 112.86 crores, 154.87 crores and 106.14 realized in Jammu region.

Terming the government figures as ‘imaginary and misleading’ President Kashmir Chamber of Commerce, Shiekh Ashiq Ahmed said that these figures are concocted and misleading.

“We are expressing our concern repeatedly about the discrimination that we are subjected to from past couple of decades. This is nothing new but the irony is that despite Kashmir having more consumers as compared to Jammu, the government has come up with imaginary and misleading figures.”

Questioning the claims of government, Ashiq said that it is unfortunate that the government within few days gave nod to the recommendations of Cabinet Sub Committee about the creation of new administrative units in the state but is showing no interest to take back power projects from National Hydroelectric Power Corporation (NHPC).

“The notion of equitable development cannot be fulfilled without equitable justice. Jammu and Kashmir’s economic planning needs a rational strategic approach and not a highly subjective statecraft,” he said.

Chairman Kashmir Economic Alliance, Muhammad Yasin Khan said that the government has manipulated the latest data while the reality is that Kashmiri people consume less power and pay more.

Khan added that KEA will not act as a mute spectator and will raise voice against such manipulations.