But in the typical system of hierarchy in babudom air-conditioners of some higher officials were kept going using inverters.
Ali was not alone - at least 14 ministers including finance minister K Rosaiah, home minister Jana Reddy and tourism minister Geeta Reddy were affected by the black out.The power shutdown - caused by a transformer burst - lasted from 12-30 in the noon to 5 pm. Also facing the wrong end of the power cut was the public affairs advisor to the chief minister, K V P Ramachandra Rao. "Work in the Secretariat came to a grinding halt although there are inverters and UPS on which computers can run.
Departments of revenue, municipal administration, panchayati raj, rural development, information technology, industry and commerce, disaster management, minority welfare, irrigation, roads and buildings and backward classes welfare among others were hit by the Monday midday blues.
Information technology and communication department officials were left fuming as they were working on preparations for a review meeting by the chief minister on Tuesday. Many ministers operating from the affected blocks were spared as they are away campaigning for the panchayat polls.
But in the typical system of hierarchy in babudom, air-conditioners of some higher officials were kept going using inverters. But lower rung officials did not have even the comfort of fans.
Further, three lifts in the 'D' block including a VIP lift were not working. Many officials working in different departments left early, citing power failure as the reason. When contacted, information and public relations officials in typical fashion ducked.
"It was only a technical problem that was sorted out by evening," said an official not knowing how to explain the situation. Shabbir Ali could not be contacted. His cell phone was picked by his private secretary B S Rashid who said that his 'saheb' was busy.
"They can't rectify a power failure in the Secretariat for five hours, so you can well imagine the situation in the rural areas," an analyst said. - Times of india
