Sopore local, biz community demand higher capacity transformer

Srinagar, Jan 29: Traders at Iqbal Market in North Kashmir’s Sopore town say they haven’t had proper access to electricity for months now despite repeatedly approaching Power Development Department for a high capacity transformer in the area.
More than 300 shopkeepers at busiest market in the Apple Town are facing immense hardships as their hours of business are affecting badly by low voltage of electricity in the area.
Group of shopkeepers told The Kashmir Monitor that they demanded upgradation of the transformer from 250 KV to 400 KV to meet the actual demand.
“Or else they should provide a separate transformer to the market alone,” the traders said.
They added that the transformer has damaged for the third time in past fifteen days and authorities don’t bother to install a 400 KV transformer to get the issue once for all.
Abrar Ahmed, a shopkeeper told The Kashmir Monitor that the whole Iqbal Market including the nearby locality Neharpora reels under darkness and PDD officials are least bothered to install a new transformer with high capacity, despite knowing that the existing one cannot afford the load of hundreds of households as well as more than three hundred shops.
The traders threatened to hit the streets if the authorities failed to fulfill their demands.
Officials in the local Power Development Department Sopore said that the transformer will be installed within days in the area
They said that the transformer develops snag due to the usage of high voltage electricity gadgets by the people.