Agartala, September 18: Frustrated by a prolonged power outage and the consequent disruption of water supply, the residents of Madhyapara of Manikyanagar Gram Panchayat under Bakshanagar block in Sepahijala district, blocked the busy Bishalgarh-Boxanagar road on Wednesday.
The villagers, many of them women with pitcher in their hands, expressed their anger over the five-day power failure, which also led to a lack of piped water, significantly affecting their daily lives.
Despite multiple complaints, the power department staff failed to address the issue, leaving the residents in distress. Many of the complainants faced harassment when they approached the department for a resolution, further aggravating the situation.
The protesters claimed that the power outage had not only left them to suffer in the scorching heat but also disrupted the essential water supply for over five days.
Villagers also raised concerns about the safety of the power infrastructure. They alleged that the recently replaced power cables were of poor quality, raising fears of potential accidents. Despite requesting the replacement of these faulty cables, the department had taken no action, prompting the residents to take matters into their own hands.
The blockade, which began at 8 AM, caused significant disruption to vehicular movement along the busy route. Upon receiving information about the protest, local police officials and leaders rushed to the scene to negotiate with the protesters.
Initially, the residents refused to withdraw the blockade, determined to have their demands heard.
After hours of discussion, during which assurances were provided that the power outage and water supply issues would be promptly resolved, the arrival of power department staff further calmed the situation.
Finally, after four hours of disruption, the residents agreed to lift the blockade.
The incident highlights the increasing frustration among rural communities over the inadequacy of essential services and the negligence of responsible authorities.
