Srinagar: The well-heeled and influential
residents of Srinagar city on Saturday got a taste of harsh winter
in Kashmir as Chief Minister Omar Abdullah directed snapping
power supply to VIP residential areas.
Highly placed sources said Omar, who arrived here this
afternoon, expressed displeasure with the officials of Power
Development Department (PDD) after coming to know that VIP
residential areas were getting electricity supply while rest
of the Valley reeled under power failure due to heavy
snowfall.
The Chief Minister directed that only emergency services
be provided with electricity till the transmission lines are
restored, the sources said.
Heavy snowfall since yesterday has snapped electricity
transmission from Northern Grid to Kashmir.
The Valley has witnessed protests at many places over
non-availability of the electricity over the past three weeks.
One youth was killed and two others were injured in one
one such protest in Uri town of Baramulla district on January
2 when CISF personnel guarding NHPC-run Uri Power Project
opened firing.
PTI
First Published: Saturday, January 07, 2012, 21:54