The recent statement of Mirwaiz Umar Farooq regarding power supply is a very welcome development as it points out the realization that apart from achieving the ultimate goal of “Azadi”, the common Kashmiris are facing umpteen problems in day to day living which need to be alleviated urgently. Raising these problems and resisting onslaught of various state and central agencies in depriving Kashmiris of basic amenities of living does not in any way diminish the urge for “Azadi”. It rather strengthens the resolve as one can easily demonstrate what Kashmir on its own, unshackled from both the neighbouring countries, acting as mill stones in the necks of Kashmiris, can achieve for the welfare of its inhabitants.
     The most cursed department in Kashmir at the present moment must be the Power Development Department which is perennially deficient of power! It needs to be renamed as the “Power Deficient Department”! The power crisis has been getting worse every year. In spite of the tall claims about the setting up of newer hydro-electric power projects, the average consumer faces increased curtailment year after year and that too in the harshest winters. On one hand it is given out that our state has the potential of generating 20,000 megawatts of hydro-electric power while on the other there seems to be a total mess in its generation and distribution. The situation has gone from bad to worse in last few years. Earlier we used to have curtailed supply during winter due to lower generation caused by fall in the discharge of rivers. Now, we have the worst type of curtailment without any notice even though the state is able to generate as well as import power in a better manner.
     The Department itself, even though in total shambles, may not have the ultimate responsibility. It is rather mismanagement and faulty or rather “greedy” planning at the highest level which is the main culprit of this misery faced by local people in the harshest winters for decades now! The worst tragedy has been the attitude of our two conflicting neighbours who divided the precious water resources of Kashmir among themselves in early sixties under the banner of Indus Water Treaty. Unfortunately, our so called “rulers” in their blind greed for power mortgaged all our resources to outsiders, leaving us high and dry. Those days even the Civil Society did not raise any murmur and like the lotus eaters we are supposed to be, we woke up when things had gone far too ahead. Better late than never, we can still redeem the situation if we are really concerned about our basic needs fulfilment of which need not wait the ultimate goal!
     The recent initiative of the Civil Society in raising the issue is a welcome timely step. However, they should not stop only at the State Electricity Regulatory Authority but go beyond to the highest judicial forum within the country and abroad. One can explore the possibility of approaching the arbitrators of the original treaty which has brought us to this sorry state of affairs!
     What surprises one more is the attitude of the Government of India? On one hand they are claiming to take measures for lessening the extreme alienation of the people while on the other hand they are bent upon taking the proverbial pound of flesh of the “Merchant of Venice” from Kashmiris! At the moment people want “Azadi” from undue and unscheduled power curtailment. Kashmiris would definitely realise that the Central Government is keen to restore confidence if instead of “Azadi”, they at least restore the electricity!
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