Srinagar — Workers of the Apni Party and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Monday held separate protests in Srinagar to oppose a 6.83 per cent average increase in electricity tariffs approved by the Joint Electricity Regulatory Commission (JERC), and demanded an immediate rollback of the decision that they said would burden ordinary consumers.
Protests staged at Press Colony, PDP headquarters
Apni Party workers gathered at Press Colony while PDP cadres demonstrated at their party headquarters in the city. The demonstrations, reported by the Kashmir News Observer (KNO), saw participants raising slogans against the government and the regulatory decision.
- Authority involved: JERC — approved average 6.83% tariff increase.
- Effective date: 1 September (revised rates to come into effect).
- Locations of protests: Press Colony (Apni Party) and PDP headquarters (PDP).
Protesters told KNO that the hike amounted to an additional financial strain at a time when many households are already coping with rising prices and erratic power supply. They argued that rather than offering relief to consumers, the move would raise monthly bills for ordinary families.
"Instead of giving relief to people, the government has increased the tariff. We demand that the decision be withdrawn," one protester said, according to KNO.
Another demonstrator, cited in the KNO dispatch, said the tariff increase would "directly affect ordinary families" who were already struggling with inflation and frequent electricity problems.
Political and consumer concerns
The protests reflect both political mobilisation by local parties and consumer unease over utility costs. While JERC's order sets the revised rates from September 1, political workers and consumer groups have indicated they will press for a reversal or reconsideration, pointing to service quality issues and household financial pressure.
Local party leaders framed the demonstrations as a defence of ordinary consumers and called on the administration and the regulator to take note of service complaints and the economic context. The protests were peaceful and concentrated at the two locations in Srinagar city.
| Party | Protest Location | Demand |
|---|---|---|
| Apni Party | Press Colony, Srinagar | Immediate rollback of the tariff hike |
| PDP | PDP headquarters, Srinagar | Withdrawal of JERC decision |
There was no immediate official response from the JERC or the administration in Srinagar to the protests, according to the KNO report. The regulator's order, which applies to Jammu and Kashmir, approved an average increase of 6.83 per cent in electricity tariffs. Local consumers will see the change in bills issued after the new rates take effect from September 1.
Observers say such tariff changes often produce immediate political reactions in Jammu and Kashmir, where heating and power costs can be significant for households, and service reliability remains a recurring public grievance. Protesters highlighted frequent power issues while objecting to higher charges.
In the coming days, attention will centre on whether consumer groups or political parties move to seek legal review of the JERC order, petition the regulator for revision, or press the administration for interim relief measures such as subsidies or targeted concessions for vulnerable consumers.
The demonstrations on Monday underline the sensitivity of utility pricing in Srinagar and the wider Jammu and Kashmir region, where any upward change in essential service costs can quickly become a focus of public dissent and political activity.
