Marwah (Kishtwar), July 13, 2026 : Serious questions have surfaced over the alleged disappearance of ₹30 crore sanctioned more than a decade ago for the electrification of the remote Marwah Sub-Division and adjoining Warwan region in Jammu and Kashmir’s Kishtwar district, where over 60,000 residents continue to live without electricity even after nearly 79 years of India’s Independence.
Residents of Marwah, Warwan, Nowpachi, Inshan and around 17 surrounding villages still rely on traditional oil lamps, candles and ‘Masaras’ (Cheer-wood flames) to light their homes after sunset, while some government offices function with rooftop solar panels installed in recent years.
According to official sources, ₹30 crore was sanctioned during 2014-15 under the Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Gram Jyoti Yojana (DDUGJY) for electrifying the region. However, locals allege that only a fraction of the work—estimated at around five percent—was initiated before the project stalled.
Several electricity poles were reportedly dumped at different locations, while a few were erected without transmission lines. More than a decade later, these poles still stand as reminders of what residents describe as an incomplete project, with no electricity reaching the villages.
Despite repeated demands from locals, no official inquiry has so far established what happened to the sanctioned funds.
Local resident Mohd Shafiq said the people of Marwah have repeatedly raised the issue before successive governments, elected representatives and officials, but their concerns have largely gone unheard.
He said the region remains cut off from the rest of Jammu and Kashmir for nearly seven months every winter, making the absence of electricity even more difficult. While a handful of families have installed solar systems, the majority cannot afford such alternatives and continue to depend on kerosene lamps and candles.
Another resident, Abid Lone of Nowpachi, said commercial activity in Marwah, Nowpachi and Warwan comes to a halt soon after sunset because of the absence of electricity.
He pointed out that residents are forced to store essential supplies before winter, while the lack of electricity also affects heating during harsh weather, compelling families to rely on traditional ‘Sagris’ for warmth.
Calling it a “major fraud,” Lone demanded a high-level investigation into the fate of the ₹30 crore sanctioned for electrification and sought accountability for those responsible.
Inderwal MLA Pyare Lal Sharma described the situation as deeply disturbing, questioning how Jammu and Kashmir was officially declared 100 percent electrified by the end of 2018 when several villages in Kishtwar continue to remain without electricity.
He alleged that the ₹30 crore project existed only on paper and announced that he would raise the matter during the forthcoming Assembly session.
Demanding a comprehensive probe, Sharma urged both the Chief Minister and the Lieutenant Governor to order a high-level investigation into the alleged misuse of public funds and ensure that those responsible are held accountable.
The MLA, however, said a new electrification project worth ₹68 crore has now been sanctioned for the Marwah Sub-Division and implementation has already commenced.
Former Inderwal MLA Ghulam Mohammad Saroori also called for an independent inquiry, stating that the people have every right to know what happened to public money sanctioned in their name.
Responding to the allegations, Executive Engineer, Power Development Department (PDD), Kishtwar, Altaf Dar, said he was not fully aware of the earlier project but acknowledged that funds had previously been sanctioned for electrifying Marwah and Warwan.
He stated that electricity has already reached Dachhan from both the Kishtwar and Palmar sides, while Marwah and Warwan remain the only major uncovered areas.
Dar said the fresh electrification project has been awarded to a Kashmir-based firm and work is currently underway. The project includes the construction of two receiving stations at Marwah and Warwan, with completion targeted by 2028.
Meanwhile, Deputy Commissioner Kishtwar Pankaj Sharma confirmed that work on the new project is being closely monitored and is expected to be completed within the next two years.
On the allegations regarding the earlier ₹30 crore project, the Deputy Commissioner said he was not aware of the details but assured that a preliminary inquiry would be initiated to ascertain the status of the sanctioned funds and determine what transpired with the earlier electrification scheme.
The allegations regarding the misuse of ₹30 crore remain unverified, and the announced preliminary inquiry is expected to determine the facts surrounding the implementation of the earlier electrification project.
