Power Supply Back In J&K As Staff Call Off Protest After Midnight Talks

Electricity has been restored in most parts of Jammu and Kashmir after protesting employees of the Power Development Department called off their strike following a written assurance from the administration to put on hold the proposed privatisation of the power sector.

An official team led by Divisional commissioner Ragav Langar held fresh talks on the intervening night of Monday-Tuesday with the employee's association and gave them a written assurance. The protesting employees have also received assurances on other issues, including salaries, from the administration.

Soon after the midnight agreement, power employees started restoration of electricity and power was restored in most parts of Jammu and Kashmir.

Twenty-thousand employees had gone on indefinite strike against the government move to merge J&K Power Development Department into the Power Grid Corporation of India and the handing over of the assets to private companies.

The strike led to major power outage in the union territory, forcing its administration to request help from the Defence Ministry which sent army to assist the state-run power firms to restore power.

"It has been decided that the proposal of joint venture of JKPTCL and PGCIL shall be put on hold. A committee comprising of all stake holders including J&K power employees coordination committee would make recommendations to find a way forward" reads the agreement.

The withdrawal of strike comes as a relief to the masses as the Valley faces sub-zero temperatures and power outages only made matters worse for the residents.