District Admin in J&K's Ganderbal Bans Heating Appliances Ahead of Winter

Srinagar: Authorities in Jammu and Kashmir’s central district Ganderbal issued an order imposing a “blanket ban” on the sale, storage and use of electric appliances meant for heating causing a furore in the region following which the authorities issued a reorder revoking it.

The district administration has imposed a complete ban on the storage, sale, possession, and use of heavy heating appliances such as blowers, heaters and radiators within the territorial jurisdiction of District Ganderbal with immediate effect.

The decision has been taken by the local administration in view of the winter season and to avoid what they called “collateral damages to electric transmission Lines or transformers due to heavy load by use of heavy heating appliances which are “not permissible.”

An order issued by the District Magistrate Ganderbal Shyambir said that the “non-judicious” use of electric appliances such as blowers, heaters, radiators may damage transmission lines due to heavy load and can cause disturbance in the power supply.

The authorities said that there is an apprehension with the use of these electric appliances, the order further mentioned, can cause short circuits, which ultimately can lead to fire incidents during the winter season putting life and property at risk.

The district administration has strictly called for the adherence of the order and said that any “violation” shall attract “punitive action” as warranted under relevant laws.

The order has said that the move has been made to provide a hassle-free electric supply to consumers as well as government offices and hospitals of District Ganderbal and to avoid unscheduled power cuts which causes “inconvenience to the general public and disruption of services of emergent nature and particularly patient-care”.

The order comes days ahead of three month long harsh winter season in the region whilst minimum temperature has already plummeted below 10 degree Celsius.

The order has surprised many including Sheikh Javed, who termed it confusing. “I do not understand the problem with the use of heating appliances. We do not use it as luxury but as a necessity here. Electricity in winters is mostly needed to help deal with the cold and we have been using them for years,” he said.

The order also drew flak from the political leadership, who termed the order ‘unreasonable’.

“Another shocker by Kashmir Administration! This time by @dcganderbal asking people not to use heating appliances in sub zero temperatures. Can the same bureaucracy issue similar order in other parts of the country where the temp touches 40⁰ asking people not to use ACs, fans?,” the state Spokesperson of National Conference party Imran Nabi Dar said.

Mohit Bhan, who is the spokesperson for People’s Democratic Party, lashed out at the official stating that the order has been issued without taking into consideration the landscape and geography of the region. 

“Do we issue such orders anywhere in summer belt of the country to not use Air Conditioners during peak summers and make it a criminal offence if not obeyed. It's evident someone who doesn't understand the landscape & geography of the place can only issue such orders,” he said.

As the administration came under severe flak from both people as well as the mainstream political leadership of the region, a corrigendum was issued later dated November 12, 2022 to the previous order.

The fresh order said that the ban has been imposed on purchase and use of banned “nichrome coil based crude water heaters and crude cooking heaters, which do not conform to the relevant specifications of the Bureau of Indian Standard.”