Tarun Karthick
Sri Vijaya Puram, 12 August 2025
In a strongly worded letter to Mr. Bishnu Pada Ray, Member of Parliament for the Andaman & Nicobar Islands, prominent Baratang resident and former Up-Adhyaksh of the Zilla Parishad (North & Middle Andaman), Mr. G. Kurma Rao, has raised alarm over an impending power crisis that could severely affect the lives of residents from October this year.
According to the letter dated August 11, 2025, the existing power supply arrangement in Baratang — provided by M/s Express Gensets Consortium Pvt. Ltd., Delhi, on a hiring basis — was valid from April 2022 to April 2025. While the agreement officially ended in April, the Electricity Department requested the company to continue supplying power for an additional six months, to which the company agreed. This temporary arrangement is set to expire in October 2025.
Mr. Rao expressed concern that the Electricity Department has yet to initiate the online tender process for a fresh power supply contract beyond October, warning that any delay could lead to a severe power shortage in the island. “If no action is taken on time, the power supply crisis will badly hit Baratang Island in the coming days,” he cautioned.
The former ZP Vice Chairperson noted that in the absence of the hiring power plant, the island would be forced to rely solely on the Rangat Bay Power House. However, he highlighted repeated complaints from residents about low voltage from this source, which has allegedly caused damage risks to household appliances.
The situation reportedly worsened on 11th August 2025, as the hiring power plant suddenly shut down, with unconfirmed reports suggesting that the company intends to wind up. “The supply from Rangat Bay Power House is very low presently and it does not run fans, TVs, and fridges properly, causing great trouble to the common man,” he wrote. Rao claimed that the growing frustration among residents has even led to verbal abuse being directed at local political leaders, indicating rising public unrest.
Urging immediate intervention, Rao requested MP Bishnu Pada Ray to take up the matter with the Chief Secretary, A&N Administration, to ensure “early fruitful action” and avoid “unwanted issues in future.”
