6 months, 5 official communications fail to resolve simple public grievance in Baramulla

In a telling example of bureaucratic inertia, a simple public grievance has remained unresolved at Khoja Bagh area of Baramulla district for the last more than five months.

A resident of Khoja Bagh Baramulla last year submitted a grievance in the Power Development Department (PDD) requesting the authorities to relocate the defunct transformer installed outside his house.

Since then, the complainant is being forced to run from the pillar to post while the issue remain unresolved despite the officials issuing around five communications from one chair to another.

The aggrieved resident approached the Power Development Department (PDD), seeking removal or relocation of the unused transformer to facilitate the construction of a gate for entry and exit to his residence.

“But despite repeated follow ups, the department is yet to shift the defunct transformer,” said Tariq Ahmad, the complainant. The transformer was installed outside his house when the PDD department was installing wired-electricity cables in the residential area. “The transformer outside my house was not made functional following which I requested the department, including the ground staff to shift it from the spot,” he said.

From December 2025 to February 2026, the officials in Kashmir Power Development Corporation (KPDCL) in Baramulla and Sopore have issued five communications regarding the issue. “The officers passed the buck and only issued communication to other officers all these months,” he said. On December 16 of 2025, the Executive Engineer Electric Division Baramulla wrote to the Superintending Engineer  KPDCL circle Sopore stating that a defunct 63kv transformer was lying at the gate space of the consumer at Khoja Bagh. “The said DT has remained non-functional since its inception and is now obstructing the consumer, who intends to construct a gate for his premises at the same location,” the official communication reads. “In view of the above circumstances, permission is solicited for handover of the said defunct 63KVA DT at the divisional stores for proper accounting and disposal, as per norms,” it reads. In wake of this, the executive engineer electric KPDCL division Baramulla on January 7 of 2026 was asked to furnish the handover and takeover of the DT in the first instance. “I am directed to request you to furnish the handover and takeover of the DT,” reads an official communication issued by technical officer of Superintending Engineer KPDCL circle Sopore.

After a passage of one month, another communication was issued on February 2 of 20926, from office of the executive engineer to Superintending Engineer KPDCL, circle Sopore. “It is submitted that no handover take over has been affected so far in respect of the defunct 63KV Distribution Transformer (DT) in question. The said DT has been lying defunct for the past five years. As such permission is requested for lifting and shifting of the same to the divisional stores for further necessary action, as per rules,” the official communication reads. A week later another official communication was submitted to the Superintending Engineer (SE) Projects north circle where in SE Soproe circle stated that the said DT has not been taken over by the O and M division concerned from the projects.

“Hence this infra does not belong to distribution KPDCL. This office is not in position to re-locate or dismantling of the said DT as it not owned by this wing, and does not form part of its inventory/assets,” reads a communication signed by SE KPDCL circle Sopore.

After a passage of six days, another communication was issued by SE KPDCL project circle north directing the Executive engineer, project division Baramulla to coordinate with the O&M division Bramulla with regard to the matter. “A detailed report should be submitted to this office at the earliest,” the document reads.