Protesters block NH in Uri against power curtailments

Protesters shouting slogans against PDD at Chandanwadi in Uri area of Baramulla district. — Excelsior/Aabid Nabi
Protesters shouting slogans against PDD at Chandanwadi in Uri area of Baramulla district. — Excelsior/Aabid Nabi

Excelsior Correspondent

Srinagar, Dec 28: Scores of people from Chandanwadi village of Uri in North Kashmir’s Baramulla today protested and blocked Srinagar- Muzaffarabad Highway for several hours against massive power curtailment.
The protesters took to streets at 9 am and blocked the Highway till 1 pm during which they resorted to massive anti-Government sloganeering and demanded an end to curtailment.
Bashir Ahmad, a protester, said that they are being subjected to 23-hour curtailment by Power Development Department (PDD) everyday. “We only see electricity for one hour every day. This despite Uri having three major power projects which generate power for other States of the country but Uri reels under darkness,” he said.
Due to blockade of the Highway, hundreds of vehicle got stranded for hours, causing extreme inconvenience to the commuters. The anti-PDD protesters threatened of stopping electricity to outside states if the power scenario doesn’t improve in Uri.
Later, a police party led by Sub-Divisional Police Officer (SDPO) Uri rushed to the spot and assured protesters of taking up their issue with concerned authorities. Subseque-ntly, the protesters dispersed from the spot after which the traffic was restored. Pertinently, there have been multiple protests in Uri against power curtailment since the onset of winter.
Despite repeated attempts, the Senior Engineer of PDD couldn’t be reached for his comments.

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