Samba residents protest against power dept

Our Correspondent

Samba, July 19

Expressing their anguish, residents of Samba today held a protest against the Power Development Department (PDD) for not replacing a power transformer. They blocked the Jammu-Pathankot national highway disrupting vehicular movement for nearly half an hour here today.

A large number of people of the area assembled on the Jammu-Pathankot National Highway and raised slogans, holding the PDD responsible for power crisis in the area.

They alleged that the department had failed to restore the power supply to the locality in the past four days.

“The power transformer got damaged three times in the past four days and is yet to be replaced by the PDD authorities. Since then the people of the area are without electricity. We are badly suffering in this hot and humid summer but the authorities are acting as mute spectators,” said Anil Singh, a local.

“We demand the replacement of damaged transformer in the locality to overcome the crisis. The whole area plunged into darkness, but ironically, the PDD authorities are adopting dilly-dallying tactics in installing the transformer. If power supply is not restored immediately we will intensify the agitation,” said Sahil Kumar, another local.

Later, Station House Officer, Samba, Sanjeev Chib reached the spot and pacified the agitating residents. He assured the people on behalf of PDD officials that the transformer would be installed by today. On this assurance they lifted the road blockade.