Tarun Karthick
Sri Vijaya Puram, 04 August 2025
Mr. R. Sachithanantham, Member of Parliament (Lok Sabha) from Dindigul, Tamil Nadu, along with Mr. D. Ayyappan, State Secretary of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) – Andaman and Nicobar Islands, met the Union Minister of Power, Mr. Manohar Lal Khattar, at his Parliament House office recently to highlight the deepening power crisis in Port Blair and the adjoining rural areas of South Andaman.
The CPI (M) delegation submitted a memorandum through the MP, detailing the deteriorating electricity situation in the region, following partial privatisation of power generation. The party expressed serious concerns over the government’s decision to shut down generator sets operated by the Electricity Department and to rely instead on private firms, without adequate safeguards or backup.
The memorandum noted that Port Blair and nearby rural areas, with a combined population of over three lakhs, continue to suffer from acute power shortages. The CPI (M) pointed out that while the region currently requires approximately 48 MW of electricity, the Electricity Department is receiving less than 40 MW, resulting in a shortfall of 7–10 MW. This gap is being managed through extensive and frequent power cuts, which have severely impacted daily life, especially that of students.
To address the crisis, the delegation urged the Power Minister to immediately deploy diesel generator sets in Port Blair as a temporary measure. However, the minister ruled out the proposal citing high production costs.
Instead, CPI (M) recommended a long-term solution by enhancing renewable energy infrastructure. They demanded the installation of a solar power backup battery system at the existing 20 MW solar power plant in Port Blair, to prevent frequent supply disruptions. Additionally, the party called for the development of ground-mounted or floating solar plants with sufficient battery backup at 7–8 key locations across the Union Territory.
The delegation also suggested expanding solar rooftop installations on residential buildings in Port Blair and other islands. According to the CPI (M), thousands of homes and buildings could be tapped for small-scale solar installations, contributing meaningfully to the overall power supply.
The pending proposal for a 50 MW LNG-based power plant at Hopetown in rural South Andaman was also discussed during the meeting. CPI (M) State Secretary D. Ayyappan pressed the minister to expedite approval and implementation of the project, which could potentially eliminate the current power deficit.
Further, the CPI (M) strongly opposed the Government of India’s ongoing efforts to privatise the power sector in the islands. Mr. Ayyappan urged that the electricity sector in Andaman and Nicobar Islands remain under government control to safeguard the jobs of around 2,000 engineers, employees, and workers currently employed with the Electricity Department. He also called for the revival of government-operated power plants across the territory.
Concluding their appeal, the CPI (M) representatives urged the central government to accord special category status to the Andaman and Nicobar Islands in the power sector, in order to facilitate permanent solutions to recurring disruptions and to meet the growing energy demands of the population.
The Union Minister of Power assured the delegation that the concerns raised would be carefully examined.
