Tarun Karthick
Port Blair, 01 April 2024
Residents of Port Blair and its surrounding areas are facing a dire situation as prolonged power cuts continue to plague the region, exacerbating public frustration ahead of the upcoming Lok Sabha Election.
Despite a temporary respite from power outages in recent months, the situation has taken a turn for the worse, with reports of extended blackouts emerging from various parts of the city and its outskirts.
The Electricity Department is conspicuously silent and so are political leaders from various parties. This apathy towards the public’s plight, which has persisted since the 2019 General Elections, underscores a glaring lack of political attention to a critical issue affecting everyday lives.
Efforts to address the issue have been feeble at best, limited to sporadic letters, meetings with officials, and isolated protests by a handful of politicians. However, the collective silence of most political figures is a disheartening reflection of their disconnect from the grassroots.
The prevailing discontent among the public has dampened enthusiasm for the upcoming election, with voters feeling disillusioned by the failure of political leaders to champion their concerns. Across the political spectrum, leaders in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands have failed to advocate for the common citizens grappling with the daily hardships caused by erratic power supply.
It is imperative that political parties and their leaders break their silence and address the pressing issue of power cuts. Holding the Electricity Department accountable, they must transparently communicate the reasons behind the disruptions and outline both short-term remedies and long-term solutions to alleviate the suffering of the populace.
As the election looms, the electorate eagerly awaits a response from their leaders, hoping for tangible action to rectify the persistent power crisis and restore faith in the democratic process.