'Powerless' residents block traffic for two hours
TNN 10 August 2009,

MOHALI: Zirakpur-Ambala highway remained closed for over two hours at Zirakpur on Sunday morning after irate residents blocked the Patiala Chowk to
protest frequent power cuts imposed by Punjab State Electricity Board after the by-election was over. The blockade caused harassment to commuters going towards Shimla and Patiala.

At around 11.45 am, residents of Preet Colony, Adarsh Colony and surrounding areas gathered at Patiala Chowk and blocked the roads leading towards Shimla and Patiala by parking vehicles, two wheelers, and cycle rickshaws in the middle of the road. Residents said that frequent power cuts have made their life miserable while authorities are not ready to listen to their grievances. Residents further claimed that they enjoyed uninterrupted power supply only during elections.

While the vehicles going towards Shimla and Patiala got stuck in the jam for over two hours, there was no effect on traffic towards Ambala as it was moving over the flyover. Agitated residents raised slogans against the government and demanded uninterrupted power supply.

‘Commuters who were on their way to Shimla and Patiala were stuck inside their vehicles for over two hours under hot and humid conditions, worst was the condition of women and children,’ said Sushil Kalta, who was on his way to Shimla.

Indu, a resident of Dera Bassi was on her way to Chandigarh in a bus and she got stuck in the jam for around two hours. ‘As traffic was not restored I got off the bus and took another vehicle to reach Chandigarh. Had the police acted in time, commuters would have been saved from harassment,’ she said.

While the commuters were feeling harassed due to blockade, residents on their part said they were left with no other option but to block the road as their repeated requests to PSEB officials to ensure regular power supply fell on deaf ears. They added that despite their complaints power supply was not restored on Saturday.

Abhinav, a resident of Preet Colony, said that during elections the area was getting regular power supply but now cuts were being imposed even during night hours. Sukhjinder from Adarsh Colony said the government should realize that during hot and humid condition people cannot sleep without fan or coolers.

As residents continued their agitation, a PSEB official from Banur came to pacify the irate residents. The official assured that he would apprise higher authorities about the situation. Meanwhile, residents restored the traffic after SHO Zirakpur Sukhwinder Singh pacified the residents and told them about problems being faced by commuters, especially women and children.