People protest against PDD, BSNL

Excelsior Correspondent
MENDHAR, Aug 24: People from Mendhar town including members of Beopar Mandal held strong protest demonstration against the Power Development Department and the BSNL authorities for poor services in the area.
A large number of locals led by prominent persons of the town including P K Sawhney, Satish Sharma and others assembled at the main chowk in the town here and started protest demonstration. They also blocked the road for nearly two hours and shouted slogans against the PDD and the BSNL authorities. The agitating people alleged that Mendhar was facing worst ever, power crisis and the PDD staff was least bothered. After recent floods, the power could not be restored and since yesterday, electricity for just an hour was provided in the town in last 30 hours.
The BSNL services including Mobile phone, internet and even land line remained out of order and no officer of the organization bothered about the miseries of the public. The Administration also takes no interest to pull up the concerned authorities who are drawing heavy salaries and giving nothing in return to the suffering public. There is no accountability and the public is being crushed, said the demonstrators.
The agitating people were also carrying burning candles in their hands. They raised slogans against Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, Chief Engineer PDD, CGM BSNL J&K, DC Poonch and others. They warned the Administration not to test the patience of the public and behave as responsible officers, otherwise leave their jobs. They also urged the State Government to order forced retirement of the non-performing officers and punish them if they do not perform their job well. They said if the Government can honour the officers on August 15 or January 26 for their performance, the non-performing/ dead wood should also be identified and thrown out from their respective departments.