Pampore, Feb 08: The residents of this south Kashmir town Friday here protested against the Power Development Department (PDD) for the erratic power supply in the area. They also blocked the Srinagar-Jammu highway for several hours due to which the movement of traffic was effected.
 Reports said that hundreds of people from Kadlabal area of the town poured on the highway and held protest demonstrations against PDD.
 “The protesters then blocked the highway for about three hours by erecting barricades,” reports said. They said that due to the blockade the traffic came to halt and a heavy traffic jam was witnessed in the area for several hours.
 The protestors alleged that PDD has been taking the consumers for a ride, with almost negligible power supplied to the area since last two months, despite the fact that PDD’s collection of electricity bills from the area is more than 95 percent.
 “Our area is being subjected to unscheduled power cuts for the last two months and since last 48 hours the area is completely reeling under darkness forcing us to take to streets,” said the residents.
 They accused PDD of diverting the power supply to the industrial units in adjoining Khanmoh and Khrew area from the receiving station at Pampore.
 “We are being left to suffer and PDD authorities in connivance with the unit holders in these industrial areas are looting the state exchequer,” the protestors alleged. They further accused the authorities of step-motherly treatment to the area and said the PDD does not even follow their own power curtailment schedule.
 The PDD officials however blamed the people for using electricity more than they have been contracted to. “Every household in the area is using electricity more than they are entitled to and as far as diverting power supply to any other area is concerned, we are not entitled to do that. It’s a lie,” said a senior official of the PDD from the area.
 Meanwhile, police accompanied by tehsildar and some officials from PDD rushed to the spot and persuaded people to call off their protests. The officials assured the people of looking into their grievance.

Lastupdate on : Fri, 8 Feb 2013 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Fri, 8 Feb 2013 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Sat, 9 Feb 2013 00:00:00 IST