Darkness forces inhabitants to take to streets again in Valley

Damaged transformers being repaired: CE PDD

Srinagar, Feb 06 (KNS): The protests against the Power Development Department (PDD) seems to have no end in the Valley as the most of the areas continued to take to streets claiming that their respective areas reel under darkness from past few days.

Besides north and south Kashmir inhabitants, the residents of Srinagar areas took to streets today alleging that the department has ignored them at all fronts.

According to KNS correspondent, the residents of Sakidafar here blocked the main chowk to mark a protest against the department. The protesting residents while chanting anti-PDD slogans wee demanding restoration of electricity.

The protesters including men and women had erected a temporary barricade on the roads and were not allowing the commuters to move ahead, which also resulted in the massive traffic jam in the area.

Witnesses said that hundreds of vehicles were seen stranded on the roads as the protesters had blocked the main Chowk.

The protesters said that they are reeling under darkness from past three days but unfortunately, the department has taken no measures to redress the genuine grievances of inhabitants here.

The protesting residents said that the failure of the department forced them to take streets. “We have been ignored at all fronts. The authorities must not ignore our plights and should fulfill the demands of inhabitants at earliest so that we can feel a sigh of relief,” they demanded.

However, the protesters later dispersed peacefully.

Meanwhile, the residents of BK Pora Naseem Abad area of Nowgam also staged protest against the department demanding immediate restoration of electricity in the area.

The protesters said that they are reeling under darkness from past 20 days and are facing immense hardships due to the department apathy. “We are facing tremendous hardships due to the absence of electricity in our area,” the protesters said.

Threatening to block roads, the residents said that in case the authorities failed to restore electricity in their area, they will block the roads and won't allow anyone to move ahead. “The authorities should immediately look into the matter and should redress the genuine grievances of inhabitants,” the protesters said.

Pertinently, since the Valley received the heavy snowfall, the residents of various areas across the Valley have staged protest against the PDD department while the authorities in the department had claimed that over 300 transformers have developed technical snag due to the heavy snowfall.

The officials had said that the maximum of the transformers have been repaired while the remaining damaged transformers will be repaired soon.

However, the residents from various areas continued to stage protest on daily basis demanding immediate restoration of electricity.

Meanwhile, Chief Enginner PDD, Dr Shahnaz Goni told KNS that the several transformers got damaged due to the heavy snowfall in the Valley on Saturday evening. “The damaged transformers are being repaired currently. It will take a few days to repair all the damaged transformers,” she said. (KNS)