Panipat villagers protest power cuts

Tribune News Service

Panipat, May 23

Villagers protested the prolonged power cuts and cordoned the power house in the district’s Israna village today.

They submitted a memorandum to the Sub Divisional Officer (SDO) for an immediate restoration of power supply. Vishal Goyat, SDO, Uttar Haryana Bijli Vitran Nigam, Israna, pacified the protesters.

Villagers said if the problem was not solved in a week, they would lay siege to the cabinet minister and the local MLA.

Hundreds of villagers led by Dalbir Jaglan, president of the Gramin Yuva Jagriti Manch, participated in the protest.

“Israna was declared a feeder city in 1986 and the power supply was available for 22 hours a day. Israna village had given free land for establishing the power house,” said Dalbir Jaglan.

“The bills recovery rate in the village is more than 90 per cent, but the village is facing power cuts for seven-eight hours a day for the past five months,” he added.

“We have submitted memorandum to the power department thrice, but they paid no heed to it,” said Sewa Singh, president, Bhartiya Kissan Union.

Villagers protested for more than 4 hours. They said if their demands were not met, they would stage a dharna at the power house. Heavy police force was deployed at the power house.

“The villagers have submitted a memorandum and it will be sent to the higher officials and appropriate action will be taken accordingly,” said Goyat.