Bandipora, Jan 27: Hundreds of people from different villages took to the streets in this north Kashmir district on Thursday against the erratic power supply.  
Protesters complained that they were facing immense hardships as electricity has been playing hide and seek since the winter commenced. “PDD officials do not follow any schedule. No one knows when the electricity will come and go,” protesters added. 
They alleged that electricity disappears in the evening. “Children are forced to study under candle light.”
Protesters threatened that if the supply was not streamlined, not only would they stop paying  the electricity bills but will also enforce shutdowns and halt the normal government functioning.
Protesters said that PDD was unable to provide round the clock electricity to the District hospital Bandipora.   
Castigating the department for "ignoring" Bandipora district, MLA Bandipora Nizamudin Bhat  said: “Power supply in rural areas remains affected for hours together. Towns and sub urban areas which have been metered too are facing unscheduled power cut.”
Apart from erratic power supply, he said, “The whole system of PDD in the district has collapsed. I have seen electric lines tied to branches. The PDD has ignored Bandipora township.”
 The Additional District Development Commissioner Bandipora Ghulam Muhammad Barkabo said: “I will speak to PDD officials about the crisis.”
Repeated attempts to contact officers in PDD proved futile.

Lastupdate on : Thu, 27 Jan 2011 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Thu, 27 Jan 2011 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Fri, 28 Jan 2011 00:00:00 IST