SP workers protest against power officials over electricity crisis

Harveer Dabas | TNN

Bijnor: Workers of the Samajwadi Party staged a symbolic protest in Bareilly on Monday against worsening electricity shortages and frequent unscheduled power cuts.

Led by former district vice-president Haider Ali, party members reached the electricity department office carrying “slippery pots” (chikna ghada, an idiom in Hindi which means someone unresponsive to criticism or advice) to symbolically highlight what they called the negligence of power officials and their failure to address public complaints.

Raising slogans against the department, protesters said prolonged outages during the peak summer heat had disrupted normal life in both urban and rural areas. They alleged that officials were ignoring complaints and not responding to consumers’ calls.

Ali said students were struggling to study, traders and small business owners were suffering financial losses, while the elderly and sick faced severe difficulties due to the heat. He added that irregular electricity supply had also affected water availability in several localities.

A memorandum was submitted to the chief engineer demanding immediate restoration of uninterrupted electricity supply across the district. The memorandum also called for an end to unscheduled power cuts, quick replacement of damaged transformers and repair of old and damaged power lines. The protesters further demanded strict action against officials who ignore consumer complaints and urged authorities to ensure that the electricity helpline remains fully operational.

Party leaders warned that if the situation does not improve soon, a larger campaign titled “Stay Awake at Night, Drive Away Sleep” will be launched to intensify pressure on authorities.

Notably, a letter from the minister of state for forest and environment (independent charge), Arun Kumar, regarding the deepening power crisis in Bareilly had created a stir in the energy department. In his letter to the energy minister, Kumar apprised him of several power cuts and stated that despite repeated calls, officials have not been answering their phones.

Following the complaint, the power corporation transferred three officials from Bareilly to Lucknow. Officers from other three districts — Pilibhit, Badaun, and Shahjahanpur — were also removed.

When contacted, Bareilly’s chief engineer Gyan Prakash said that an inquiry had been initiated based on the complaint. He added that strict instructions have been issued to officials that no consumer’s call should be ignored, and that if any employee or officer is found negligent, strict action will be taken against them.

(Inputs from Asif Ansari)