KL Report
SRINAGAR
Pesky power cuts and excess electricity billing invited a massive protest against Power Development Department (PDD) along the Srinagar-Baramulla highway near Bemina area of Srinagar City.
Amid anti-government and PDD slogans, the protestors blocked the Srinagar-Baramulla highway, leading the massive traffic jams on the Highway. According to reports scores of residents including men, women and children of Nundreshi Colony-B took to streets against power fee hike and pesky power cuts by the Power Development Department (PDD).
The protesters blocked the highway paralyzing the traffic movement in the area for around three hours. “We used to Pay Rs 150 per month as power tariff. However, this month we have received bill of Rs 545 from PDD despite the fact that PDD fails to provide us electricity round the clock. One of the protesters told CNS.
The protestors alleged that there is anarchy in the State and people who are at the helm of affairs have miserably failed to address the problems of the people.
“Without any notice or consultation, PDD hiked the rates. This is completely an arbitrary decision. We appeal to the authorities to reconsider this unilateral hike otherwise we would be forced to take legal course,” said the protestors.
Police and PDD officials reached at spot to pacify the protestors. PDD officials assured the protestors that their problem will be addressed immediately.
Executive Engineer Muhammad Shafi told CNS that people were protesting against unscheduled power cuts and, “we assured them that the area will not witness such pesky power cuts in future,” he said.
