Srinagar: The industrial sector in the Kashmir valley is reeling under a severe power crisis, with production plummeting by more than 60 percent, according to valley industrialists.
Erratic power supply has wreaked havoc on both domestic and commercial users, particularly industrialists who are reporting substantial losses due to inadequate electricity.
Shahid Kamili, President of the Federation Chamber of Industries Kashmir (FCIK), revealed that the ongoing power crisis has taken a heavy toll on the valley’s industrial sector stating that losses have surged into crores of Rupees, with production dropping by 65 percent in the last month.
Kamili lamented, "Even with limited working hours, the industrial sector doesn’t receive the necessary power supply. Production has plummeted by 65 percent, resulting in significant losses."
Industries most affected, according to Kamili, include cold storage, apple grading and packaging, and furniture manufacturing. These industries require uninterrupted electricity, as their automatic machines depend on a constant power supply, he said.
"Our members constantly report that these industries are suffering due to the lack of ample electricity during peak hours." Javaid Ahmad Tenga, President of the Kashmir Chamber of Commerce and Industries (KCCI), disclosed that they have been inundated with SOS calls from distressed industrialists about the adverse impact of poor electricity supply.
Handicraft artisans, dealers, and even the tourism sector are grappling with a massive drop in production. Tenga pointed out that the absence of reliable electricity was driving up costs for industries.
"Everything relies on generators at the moment, leading to cost escalation for industrialists. We recently approached the government to demand uninterrupted power supply, but nothing has materialized thus far." KCCI has called for the formation of a fact-finding committee to investigate the root causes of the ongoing power crisis in Kashmir.
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