New Delhi: Several areas in Delhi continued to reel under massive power outage and water scarcity for third consecutive day following Friday`s powerful storm even as Congress on Sunday decided to launch an agitation demanding uninterrupted electricity and water supply in the city.
Residents in Najafgarh, Rohini, Uttam Nagar and outer Delhi said though power supply was restored in their areas late last night, there have been intermittent power cuts ranging from three to five hours.
"The Congress party has decided to launch an agitation in the city demanding improvement in water and power supply. People in large parts of the city are struggling to get even a drop of drinking water. The power situation is worsening," said chief spokesperson of Delhi Congress Mukesh Sharma.
The decision to launch the agitation was taken at a meeting of sitting and former MLAs of the party. The meeting was presided over by DPCC chief Arvinder Singh Lovely.
He said water and power supply situation was deteriorating in the last three months and the agitation was not because of long outages due to the storm.
The storm that had struck the city on Friday evening had damaged the power transmission network in the city leaving many areas without power for upto 35 hours.
Power department officials said though supply has been restored in almost all areas, it will take at least two more days to normalise the operation.
Two major 220 KB transmission lines from Pamnouli to Papankallan and Bawana to Rohini grid were severely damaged in the storm because of which supply of power could not be restored in various areas of west Delhi, till late last night.
At least four power transmission towers were also damaged by the storm and hundreds of technical staff were working through the night and this morning to repair them. Supply of power was restored in some areas by midnight.
Damage to power transmission network had affected operations at various water treatment plants of Delhi Jal Board, affecting supply of water in east, west, and south Delhi.
Officials said DJB was doing its best to ensure normalcy in water supply.
Sharma said Congress will also resort to road-blockage at various places in the city as part of the agitation.
"The Congress had ensured 24X7 power supply in the city. But now the situation has deteriorated drastically. We want immediate improvement in power and water supplies," he said.
Sharma, a four-time former MLA, today addressed a public meeting at Arya Samaj Road in Uttam Nagar where he asked Lt Governor Najeeb Jung to take immediate action.
As a first step of the agitation, Congress has decided to meet the Lt Governor on Monday. A delegation led by DPCC president Arvinder Singh Lovely, and consisting of prominent citizens, will meet Jung and brief him about the power and water woes, he said.
The delegation will also strongly take up the issue of sealing of industrial units in residential areas, particularly in East Delhi, by the municipal body, Sharma said.
