Hundreds of angry people staged protests in nearly half a dozen districts, including Saharsa, Munger, Patna, Bhagalpur and Gaya. Some protesters tried to set ablaze a train in Saharsa, attacked vehicles in Munger and threatened to paralyse their respective towns if power shortage continued.

"People in Munger, Saharsa and Patna blocked roads, burnt tyres, targeted government property and ransacked BSEB (Bihar State Electricity Board) offices during protests," a police officer said.

With temperatures soaring and scarcity of drinking water reprted across the state, the power shortage added fuel to the fire as people are fed up of living without basic amenities, particularly in small towns.

People in Gaya, a Budhhist pilgrimage and an international tourist centre, get electricity for only four to five hours a day.

While Bihar has a daily requirement of 2,200-2,500 MW,it produces only 45-50 MW of power. The central government supplies around 750 to 900 MW. The state is facing a power deficit of around 1,000-1,200 MW a day, officials said.

Millions in Bihar are still living in the lantern age as electricity has become a luxury for people in most parts. Patna is an exception of sorts, but most small towns and district headquarters are badly hit by the power shortage.

Energy Minister Bijendra Prasad Yadav has said time and again the power situation cannot improve unless Bihar's own generation and central allocation is increased substantially.

Last month the issue rocked the Bihar assembly when many legislators, including ruling coalition partner Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) Amerendra Pratap Singh cautioning the state government that there was a serious danger of law and order if power supply was not regular.

Singh said that power shortage has led to widespread resentment among the people.

Comment

comments...

It is very unfortunate that people have to resort to such violent protests which ( the shortage of electricity ) is nothing new. It is as a result of lack of proper understanding of the use of electricity.

It is simply condemning Bihar to remain undeveloped for future also. Why people vote in the politicians ( M. Ps and M.L. As ) to rule over them where people are being taken for granted.

The use of elecricity is not taught even in schools. It has to start from there when a child knows that something is seriously wrong in the structure of the society.

Why generation of electricity is a problem for Bihar only where many other states have lot more electricity ?

Where are the social workers, NGOs who can atleast ask for even this basic thing ?

Anand M. Sharan