In a bizarre order, authorities in Jammu and Kashmir's Ganderbal district on Saturday banned the sale, possession and use of electric heating appliances even as the valley grappled with a cold wave following heavy snowfall.
In a bizarre order, authorities in Jammu and Kashmir's Ganderbal district on Saturday banned the sale, possession and use of electric heating appliances even as the valley grappled with a cold wave following heavy snowfall.
The order issued by Ganderbal District Magistrate (DM) Shyambir said the decision was taken to avoid any damage to transmission lines, unscheduled power cuts and to provide hassle-free power supply to consumers.
The order, which also warned of punitive action against those violating the ban, drew sharp reactions from political leaders and Twitterati, who termed it "inhuman" and demanded that the Ganderbal DM be sacked.
"... It is recognized that non-judicious use of electrical equipments such as blowers, heaters and radiators etc. may cause damage to the transmission lines due to heavy load, resulting in disturbances in trouble free power supply," read the order.
By using such electrical equipment, there is every apprehension of short circuit which ultimately results in fire incidents in winter season causing loss of life and property.
"... in exercise of the powers vested in me by virtue of Section 144 Cr.P.C. of 1973, I hereby impose a complete ban on the storage, sale, possession and use of heavy heating equipments like blowers, heaters and radiators etc. in the Regional Area of District Ganderbal jurisdiction with immediate effect," the District Magistrate said.
The order said the decision was taken to provide hassle-free power supply to consumers, government offices and hospitals and to avoid unscheduled power cuts, which cause inconvenience to the general public and services of emergency nature, especially patient care. Interruption occurs.
Any violation of the order will attract penal action under relevant laws, it said.
The order was criticized from various quarters.
Sharing a copy of the order on Twitter, National Conference Vice President Omar Abdullah urged Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha to withdraw the "draconian order".
"This is a ridiculous order. How can the administration impose a complete ban on the sale, use and even storage of electric heaters? Are DC's heating/cooling ACs covered under this section 144 ban? What He will remove it from his office/home? Should people be put to death," Abdullah asked.
"Violation of Section 144 orders results in arrest. Is this heartless administration going to arrest parents who want to protect their children from cold? Or children who want to protect aged parents from cold ? @OfficeOfLGJandK should withdraw this draconian order," he said.
PDP spokesperson Mohit Bhan asked whether such orders are issued anywhere in the country's summer belt.
"Should we issue such orders anywhere in the summer belt of the country not to use air conditioners during peak summer and make it a criminal offense if not followed. It is clear that Someone who does not understand the landscape and geography of the place can only issue such orders," he tweeted.
In a tweet, senior PDP leader and former minister Naeem Akhtar said, "Dear countrymen, this is where Kashmir is in its 5th year of Amrit Kaal. Night temperatures are below freezing point and use of heaters has been criminalised." We have 6 months of snow, rain and frost ahead of us. Are we going to die?"
TMC national spokesperson Saket Gokhale termed the order as "shocking and inhuman".
"The DM of Ganderbal (a non-Kashmiri) in J&K has ordered a complete ban on the use and possession of heaters in homes. The temperature in Ganderbal right now is 10 degrees during the day and 2 degrees at night. Can you punish Are you a colony, @dcganderbal,” he asked.
A Twitter user Tariq Trumbu said, "I think DC Ganderbal should be sacked with immediate effect for this irresponsible and potentially dangerous order."
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