Tarun Karthick
Port Blair, 03 December 2023
In a pressing development, Mr. M Vinod, President of the Andaman Association of Tour Operators, has voiced grave concerns over the escalating power crisis on Swaraj Dweep Island. Addressing the Chief Secretary of the Andaman and Nicobar Administration, Vinod highlighted the debilitating effects of the acute electricity shortage affecting both tourism stakeholders and the island’s residents.
Vinod’s letter underscored the current inability of the Electricity Department to meet the escalating demand for power, leaving both the tourism sector and the general populace grappling with severe shortages. He emphasised that while hoteliers are resorting to their own diesel generator sets, these backups are now plagued by technical issues stemming from continuous operation.
The timing of this power crisis couldn’t be worse, hitting the island during the peak tourism season. Vinod lamented that this dire situation is exacerbating the challenges already faced by the Tourism Industry, further compounded by soaring airfares between mainland India and Port Blair.
Expressing urgency, Mr. Vinod appealed to the Chief Secretary for immediate intervention. His plea entailed providing generators to the Electricity Department specifically for use on Swaraj Dweep. The call to action aimed to mitigate the escalating crisis and alleviate the strain on both the tourism industry and the island’s residents grappling with erratic power supply.
The escalating power woes have sent shockwaves through the community, urging swift and decisive measures to avert a deeper crisis and salvage the vital tourism sector. As stakeholders await a response, the pressing need for immediate action resonates as the island grapples with an increasingly dire electricity shortage.