Excelsior Correspondent
KATHUA, Aug 12: Protesting against power and water crisis irate people blocked National Highway at two places in Kathua district today.
The Jammu -Pathankot National Highway was blocked for two hours this morning at Chaper More in Hiranagar tehsil of Kathua district from 10 am to 12 noon after the people of the area protested against the failure of the PDD authorities to replace and repair the transformer of a pump station supplying drinking water to the area which has developed a snag 10 days back.
The protestors said that since then the water supply in a large number of villages has been affected and the authorities paid no attention in solving the problem despite repeated pleas. Later the SDM Hiranagar, Sohan Lal visited the area and assured the people that new transformer will be installed soon to restore water supply.
Another road blockade was held by the irate residents of Hatli and adjoin areas at Hatli More near here disrupting the traffic on Jammu -Pathankot National Highway from 6-30pm to 7-30 pm this evening in protest against the burning down of local transformer which resulted into the power failure in the area. The protestors said that authorities were requested by them to restore the power supply by replacing the transformer but in vain with the result they were forced to block the NH.
Meanwhile the residents of Shiva Nagar, Kaka Chak, Talab Manka and other adjoin area of Kathua are facing total blackout for last 24 hours with PDD authorities paying no attention in restoration of power supply in the area generating a lot of public resentment.