Hunger strike concludes on assurance of smooth power supply

Mail News Service

Koderma, June 9: Vishal Bhadani Bharatiya and Ajit Chandravanshi who sat on an indefinite dharna and hunger strike in front of the Electricity Department’s office since 10 am on Wednesday demanding a solution to the problem of erratic power supply in Jhumritilaya city, was called off at the initiative of MLA Amit Kumar Yadav who, during talks with the power officials was assured by the Superintendent Engineer of the Electricity department, Dinesh Kumar that the power supply situation would be resolved within the next couple of days. With this assurance, MLA Amit Kumar Yadav provided fruit juice to protestors Vishal Bhadani Bharatiya and Ajit Chandravanshi after they called off their planned 29 hours’ strike at 3 pm on Thursday.

During the discussions, the MLA asked the Superintending Engineer of the Electricity Department the reason for the irregular power supply. The Superintending Engineer Dinesh Kumar while replying, said that the demand for electricity had increased one and a half times during the summer in spite of the fact that the power supply received remained constant.  He said, “The dues payable to DVC have resulted in load shedding. The residents of the city are not getting regular electricity supply. According to departmental information, the dues would be paid to DVC by the Electricity Department by Thursday evening. After this the problem of electricity will be resolved within 2 to 3 days and then the residents will get power supply between 18 to 20 hours a day.”

With this assurance, MLA Amit Kumar Yadav got the people sitting on the dharna to end their hunger strike. He said on the occasion that if the power supply did not improve within the next 5 to 10 days, a bigger agitation will be organized during which, the offices of the Electricity Department would be locked. A demand letter had been handed to the Superintending Engineer.

Earlier, during this movement, people of all classes from different areas of the city reached the protest site and provided their support.