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In the wake of an acute power crisis and violent public protests at different places in Bihar over the last few days, the district administration in Saharsa on Friday imposed Section 144 of IPC to prevent the protesters turning violent any further.
Barring the State capital, power supply at other places in the State has been non-existent for the last ten days. The State Government too has virtually given up, saying the crisis would continue for the next three to four years.
Coupled with the rising mercury and scarce water supply, people of Chhapra too on Friday protested and blocked roads of the town demanding power supply.
Earlier, anger against long power cuts in the State turned volatile in many parts, with protesting residents blocking roads, burning rubber tyres and ransacking electricity board offices.
Hundreds of angry people staged protests in nearly half a dozen districts, including Shaharsa, Munger, Patna, Bhagalpur and Gaya on Thursday while at some places they even tried to set ablaze a train and damage Government offices. At Saharsa the violent protestors came out on roads and reportedly tried to set a train on fire but the police arrived on time and dispersed the mob.
Some of the protestors sitting on dharna and road blocks were arrested by the district police. Apprehending any violence on the issue the district administration further imposed section 144 of IPC in the town.
"The power situation in the district is severe. People of the area are having lot of problem so they were protesting against it but the police have arrested some of the protestors wrongfully. We've demanded from the chief minister to look into the issue and action should be taken against guilty police officials", demanded local leader Neeraj Kumar Babloo.
The town wore a deserted look on Friday as the shops had downed their shutter and vehicles did not ply on roads.
People in the pilgrimage town of Gaya have been getting power supply for not more than four hours a day.
Power-starved Bihar has a daily requirement of 2,200 MW-2,500 MW but it produces only 45-50 MW of power. The Central Government supplies around 750 to 900 MW, almost half of the quota marked for the State. Currently, the State is facing a power deficit of around 1,000-1,200 MW a day, said an electricity department official of the State.
State Energy Minister Bijendra Prasad Yadav has said time and again the power situation could not improve unless Bihar's own generation and central allocation is increased substantially.
Meanwhile, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has assured the people that the power situation would improve after three to fours years, when the upcoming power generation units at Nabinagara, Barh and other places would start functioning.
"Till then we've to depend on the central pool of the quota which we are not getting as marked for us. What we're getting is not even half of the required quota of power", Nitish Kumar said.
Barring the State capital, power supply at other places in the State has been non-existent for the last ten days. The State Government too has virtually given up, saying the crisis would continue for the next three to four years.
Coupled with the rising mercury and scarce water supply, people of Chhapra too on Friday protested and blocked roads of the town demanding power supply.
Earlier, anger against long power cuts in the State turned volatile in many parts, with protesting residents blocking roads, burning rubber tyres and ransacking electricity board offices.
Hundreds of angry people staged protests in nearly half a dozen districts, including Shaharsa, Munger, Patna, Bhagalpur and Gaya on Thursday while at some places they even tried to set ablaze a train and damage Government offices. At Saharsa the violent protestors came out on roads and reportedly tried to set a train on fire but the police arrived on time and dispersed the mob.
Some of the protestors sitting on dharna and road blocks were arrested by the district police. Apprehending any violence on the issue the district administration further imposed section 144 of IPC in the town.
"The power situation in the district is severe. People of the area are having lot of problem so they were protesting against it but the police have arrested some of the protestors wrongfully. We've demanded from the chief minister to look into the issue and action should be taken against guilty police officials", demanded local leader Neeraj Kumar Babloo.
The town wore a deserted look on Friday as the shops had downed their shutter and vehicles did not ply on roads.
People in the pilgrimage town of Gaya have been getting power supply for not more than four hours a day.
Power-starved Bihar has a daily requirement of 2,200 MW-2,500 MW but it produces only 45-50 MW of power. The Central Government supplies around 750 to 900 MW, almost half of the quota marked for the State. Currently, the State is facing a power deficit of around 1,000-1,200 MW a day, said an electricity department official of the State.
State Energy Minister Bijendra Prasad Yadav has said time and again the power situation could not improve unless Bihar's own generation and central allocation is increased substantially.
Meanwhile, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has assured the people that the power situation would improve after three to fours years, when the upcoming power generation units at Nabinagara, Barh and other places would start functioning.
"Till then we've to depend on the central pool of the quota which we are not getting as marked for us. What we're getting is not even half of the required quota of power", Nitish Kumar said.
