Electricity crisis in Chandigarh: UT’s request to Punjab, Haryana evoke no response; Army called in
Chandigarh: Lakhs of Chandigarh residents are facing a major power outage and water crisis since Monday midnight as electricity department employees continue their three-day strike against privatisation. The 'clueless' UT administration continues to remain a mute spectator.
Chandigarh residents have been facing several issues due to the electricity crisis with water supply hit, chaos on roads with traffic lights not working, functioning of hospitals and dispensaries paralysed, and online classes affected.
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Likewise, work in commercial and industrial areas of the city also remained standstill across various sectors. Those working from home were left without internet as mobile towers in some localities went out of order due to power shortage.
After nearly 18 hours, the Chandigarh administration woke up from its slumber and decided to impose the Essential Services Maintenance Act (ESMA) which allows the administration to force the employees to return to work.
Meanwhile, Army’s Military Engineer Services (MES) was also summoned late at night after UT failed to restore order on its own. Leaders of the union were being arrested for violation of the ESMA.
UT’s request to Punjab and Haryana for a backup electricity staff to the city evoked no response while the administration once again approached the chief secretaries of both states for support.
Pertinently, the power outage will be resolved soon in view of the consent given by the Chandigarh administration to the union leaders and the situation arising due to bad weather. There has been no electricity in Chandigarh for almost 36 hours.
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-PTC News
