Tarun Karthick
Sri Vijaya Puram, 18 October 2024
The Chairman of the Congress Campaign Committee, Mr. TSG Bhasker, has voiced serious concerns over the ongoing power cuts that have affected Sri Vijaya Puram for several years. In a letter addressed to the Superintending Engineer of the Electricity Department, Mr. Bhasker highlighted the detrimental impact these power outages have on residents and essential services across the region.
Mr. Bhasker stressed that the prolonged power cuts are disrupting daily life, affecting businesses, educational institutions, hospitals, and other vital services. Despite repeated complaints and assurances from the administration, he noted that the situation remains largely unresolved.
“These outages have caused significant distress and disruption to daily activities,” Mr. Bhasker said in his statement. “Islanders are also grappling with frequent power fluctuations and inconsistent voltage levels, leading to the potential damage of household appliances.”
The Congress leader pointed out the underutilization of the 20 MW solar power plant installed by Neyveli Lignite Corporation (NLC). He questioned why the A&N Administration is not making full use of this facility, especially when the island’s peak load demand reaches 35 MW during the day and 45 MW at night.
While Mr. Bhasker acknowledged the Administration’s policy of not purchasing large generators, he criticized the contradictory decision to procure power from private players using small generators. “This goes against the policy of the Government of India. On one hand, the Administration refuses to invest in large generators, yet on the other hand, they rely on power from private operators running small generators to meet the demand,” he added.
Mr. Bhasker called on the Superintending Engineer to prioritize this issue and urged for a concrete plan to address the ongoing power crisis. He emphasized the need for swift action to bring an end to the disruptions that have plagued the Islands for years.
The power situation has remained a pressing concern for the residents of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, and local leaders continue to seek a permanent solution.