Phagwara library, civic offices without power, visitors suffer

Residents visiting the Municipal Library to read books or those approaching the Water Supply and Sewerage Board office to deposit their water and sewerage bills have been facing inconvenience after electricity supply to several offices, including the library, was reportedly disconnected over the non-payment of electricity dues.

The affected premises include the Municipal Library, the billing section of the Water Supply and Sewerage Board and the Engineering Branch offices of the Municipal Corporation here. The absence of electricity has disrupted routine public services, leaving visitors inconvenienced and affecting the normal functioning of the offices.

The citizens, who visited the Municipal Library, said the lack of power had adversely affected the reading environment, while consumers arriving to pay water and sewerage bills encountered difficulties due to the disruption in office operations. The power outage has also impacted day-to-day administrative work in the engineering wing of the Municipal Corporation.

Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL) Executive Engineer (XEN) Hardeep Kumar said he was not aware of the reported disconnections. Speaking to The Tribune on Thursday, he stated that the PSPCL had installed pre-paid smart meters in government offices, indicating that the matter would need to be verified.

The reported power disconnections have sparked concern among residents, who have urged the authorities to resolve the issue without delay to ensure the uninterrupted functioning of essential civic services. They said public institutions such as libraries and utility billing centres provide important services to citizens and should not remain affected by administrative or financial issues, particularly when members of the public depend on them for daily needs.