The PSEB authroities today cut a sorry figure when they were browbeaten into restoring power connection to eight shops situated at Ferozepur road here barely an hour after its was disconnected.

The PSEB had disconnected the power supply to eight shops because they encroached on government land. However when the encroachers staged a dharna and blocked traffic, the power connection was restored in just half an hour’s time.

Public Works Department (PWD) had issued the violators notices warning them to remove encroachments or face action. But the shopkeepers did not adhere to the instructions and today when their electricity connections were disconnected, the shopkeepers staged a dharna on the main Ferozepur road and even blocked traffic.

All this while the police remained a mute spectators and never tried to prevent the protestors from blocking traffic and incoveniencing the general public. Instead, owing to political pressure and to avoid public harassment, PSEB officials were told to restore the power connections, thus raising a question mark on why the power disconnection exercise was carried out in the first place.

Deputy chief engineer Rachpal Singh said, “Looking at the law and order problem, the power connections were restored and the issue has put on the back-burner for the time being. “

Meanwhile, it has been suggested that PWD should call the shopkeepers for a discussion so as to sort out the matter amicably.