Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin on Friday suggested that the Moscow Region governor, the energy minister and the head of the holding company MRSK managing energy sector companies, go to blacked out districts to mark New Year with their dwellers.
Putin held a meeting with Governor Boris Gromov, Energy Minister Sergei Shmatko and MRSK head Nikolai Shvets. He reproached Gromov for failing to deliver on his promise to restore electricity supplies by 6 p.m. Moscow time (15 GMT).
"If you were not sure, you shouldn't have promised. Thirty-five villages with 4,000 residents remain without electricity. I suggest that you go and celebrate New Year with them. The three of you," Putin said.
The massive blackouts were caused by last weekend's ice storm. Freezing rain broke many power transmission lines, causing serious power outages, which still have to be dealt with.
Gromov said 789 villages and towns with 400,000 dwellers were initially blacked out, and electricity supplies have been restored to most of them.
Shmatko pledged to restore power supplies on January 1.
NOVO-OGARYOVO, December 31 (RIA Novosti)
