Tarun Karthick
Sri Vijaya Puram, 29 April 2025
Years after the 2004 Tsunami, the Electricity Department of Andaman and Nicobar Islands embarked on a mission to provide reliable power to the resettled villages of Laxmi Nagar Panchayat in Great Nicobar Island. The solution chosen was the installation of Aerial Bunched Cable (ABC) for long-distance power transmission. Over the years, the AB Cables began to degrade, resulting in frequent outages, and leading local authorities to push for a replacement.
In response to the growing concern over these outages, the Electricity Department recently procured 15 kilometres of High Tension (HT) AB Cables (35 Sq.mm) (Total 60 Drums), which was intended to replace the ageing infrastructure and alleviate the power woes of remote villages in GP Laxmi Nagar.
On 2nd April 2025, an agreement was signed between a private firm and the Electricity Department for the installation of these cables. The project was expected to be a much-needed solution for the power outages in Great Nicobar. However, immediately after the installation began, problems emerged instead of improvements. The newly installed cables, which spanned approximately 2.5 kilometres along the North-South Road, did little to resolve the outages. In fact, the situation worsened, with villages like Laxmi Nagar, Gandhi Nagar, and Shastri Nagar experiencing complete power blackouts that lasted for nearly four days.
A shocking report from the Assistant Engineer (AE) at Campbell Bay to the Executive Engineer (EE) of the Nicobar Division, dated 27th April 2025, has raised serious concerns over the quality of the cables used in the installation. According to the report, the newly laid Aerial Bunched Cables have experienced multiple ruptures at non-joint sections, with the cable’s earthing found to be defective in several segments.
In an alarming revelation, the AE Campbell Bay noted that the required test report for the AB Cables had not been forwarded to the Sub-Division office as of 27th April 2025. This delay in receiving critical documentation further casts doubt on the quality and reliability of the materials supplied. The AE also pointed out a grave concern: the meggering device available in the Sub-Division was not compatible with the testing requirements for an 11 KV AB cable, further complicating the identification of faults.
The report further mentions that the department’s efforts to rectify these faults have been hindered by the defective cables, leaving villages in a prolonged state of power instability. As of now, the installation of additional cables has been put on hold, awaiting further instructions from higher authorities.
Given the circumstances, it is increasingly apparent that there may be deliberate malfeasance behind the procurement of faulty cables. With the quality of the cables being questioned, the delay in providing crucial test reports, and the growing number of faults, there is a high probability that officials involved in the procurement process may have compromised on the quality of materials. The situation is dire, and the residents of GP Laxmi Nagar continue to suffer as they are left without a reliable power supply.
In light of these findings, it is imperative that anti-corruption agencies take swift action to investigate the procurement process and hold the responsible parties accountable. A suo-moto investigation by the appropriate authorities is urgently required to ascertain whether there has been any foul play involved in the procurement of these substandard cables.
The residents of Laxmi Nagar, Gandhi Nagar, and Shastri Nagar cannot afford to wait any longer. Immediate intervention is required to address the persistent power crisis, investigate the procurement anomalies, and ensure that the responsible officials face appropriate consequences.