Tarun Karthick
Sri Vijaya Puram, 07 August 2025
In a strongly worded appeal, the Hon’ble Member of Parliament from Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Shri Bishnu Pada Ray, has sought urgent intervention from the Hon’ble Prime Minister Mr. Narendra Modi and Hon’ble Home Minister Mr. Amit Shah to address the escalating power crisis across the Union Territory.
In his letter, copies of which have been sent to the Minister of Power, Lt. Governor of A&N Islands, Chief Secretary, Chairman of the Central Electricity Authority, Chairperson of the Joint Electricity Regulatory Commission, Secretary (Power) of A&N Administration, and other senior officials, MP Ray has highlighted the severe mismanagement and continued blackout conditions impacting the daily lives of islanders.
Expressing deep anguish, MP Ray accused the Lt. Governor Admiral D.K. Joshi of gross administrative failure, alleging that he has done little to resolve the crisis over the past eight years. He claimed the LG continues to enjoy uninterrupted 24×7 power at Raj Niwas while ordinary citizens endure blackouts lasting up to 16 hours daily in Port Blair, South Andaman, and inter-island areas.
“The Lt. Governor has not reviewed or addressed the worsening power situation for years. He has let the system collapse while only developing Raj Niwas for his comfort. The people are now losing patience, and protests have already started across the islands,” MP Ray stated in his letter.
Key Points Highlighted by the MP:
• The Andaman & Nicobar Islands remain disconnected from the National Power Grid, with dangerously low levels of local power generation.
• Citizens face daily unscheduled power cuts of 8 to 16 hours, affecting households, hospitals, educational institutions, defence establishments, and government offices.
• Two crucial DG sets sent for repair from Kadamtala during the COVID-19 period have not returned even after four years.
• Power supply is currently dependent on technically weak private units prone to frequent breakdowns.
• Long-term planning is absent, critical manpower is lacking, and key positions—including the post of Superintending Engineer—have been vacant for years.
• A 20 MW solar power project in Port Blair is producing only 2 MW, with no inquiry initiated into the failure.
• The Administration’s recent explanation blaming heatwaves for load shedding was termed as “false and misleading” by the MP.
• MP Ray also alleged he was deliberately excluded from a high-level power review meeting during the Power Minister’s visit in 2024, despite his in-depth understanding of local issues.
Demands Raised by MP Ray:
1. Immediate restoration of power supply and deployment of new DG sets to meet demand.
2. Action against Lt. Governor Admiral D.K. Joshi, including his removal from office and denial of pension benefits for administrative negligence.
3. A CBI-level investigation into the non-functional solar power projects at Dollygunj and Attam Pahar.
4. Formation of a central monitoring committee to assess the power, health, and infrastructure situation in the islands.
5 Concrete steps to restore public confidence and prevent escalation of ongoing mass protests and law and order disturbances.
MP Ray warned that the people are suffering mentally, physically, and financially, with children’s education disrupted, electronic appliances damaged, and livelihoods at stake.
“The people are being forced into protest. If immediate action is not taken, the situation may spiral into a full-blown crisis. Public resentment is already visible in the form of chakka jams and mass demonstrations,” he cautioned.
