Tarun Karthick
Port Blair, 13 August 2024
Mr. Bishnu Pada Ray, the Hon’ble Member of Parliament for the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, has once again raised concerns over the persistent power crisis in the region, particularly in the capital city of Port Blair. During a meeting on Sunday with the Hon’ble Union Minister of Power, Mr. Manohar Lal Khattar, Mr. Ray submitted a letter detailing the ongoing issues with power cuts across the islands.
In his letter, Mr. Ray emphasized that the power situation in Port Blair has been critical for years, with no substantial corrective measures taken to address the problem. “Power cuts have become a daily occurrence, leaving the residents deeply aggrieved,” he stated. The MP highlighted that the average power demand in Port Blair is around 45 MW, but the current power generation sources, including the department’s 4 MW plants, are insufficient to meet this demand.
The power crisis is not confined to Port Blair alone; it affects all the populated islands in the territory, exacerbating the challenges faced by residents across the region. Mr. Ray also pointed out that the existing 33 KV and 11 KV tie lines in Port Blair are outdated and urgently need to be revamped to mitigate the frequent power cuts.
Beyond technical issues, Mr. Ray called for administrative improvements within the Electricity Department. He stressed the need to revive the post of Superintendent Engineer (SE) and upgrade it to the level of Chief Engineer (CE) to enhance the department’s efficiency in tackling the ongoing crisis.
To gain a comprehensive understanding of the situation, Mr. Ray extended an invitation to the Union Power Minister to visit the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. Accepting the invitation, Mr. Khattar assured that he would visit the islands in October this year to witness the ground reality and assess the challenges faced by the residents firsthand.
This ongoing power crisis has significantly impacted daily life in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, and the residents are hopeful that the visit by the Union Power Minister will lead to effective solutions and much-needed relief.