Electricity Department Should Foresee the Future and Aim for Surplus Power Generation, Suggests MP

Port Blair, Jan 28: During the recent visit of the Member of Parliament, Shri. Kuldeep Rai Sharma to Shaheed Dweep and Swaraj Dweep, a large number of Islanders highlighted the issue of severe power crisis in these two Islands.

The Islanders of Shaheed Dweep and Swaraj Dweep informed the Member of Parliament that due to the gap between the demand and supply of power, these two Islands are witnessing several hour long power cuts.

Along with general public, stakeholders of tourism industry operating in Shaheed Dweep and Swaraj Dweep also raised this issue and pointed out that due to power crisis Tourism Industry is also suffering heavy loss, as private hotel and resort owners are being asked to run their own DG sets during evening peak hours, which amounts to a huge revenue loss.

Considering the problems being faced by General Public and also the tourism stakeholders, the Member of Parliament met the Secretary of Power this morning soon after his return from Shaheed Dweep and Swaraj Dweep.

During the meeting, the MP demanded to resolve the power crisis of Shaheed Dweep and Swaraj Dweep as early as possible and also to plan a long term strategy to deal with the growing power needs in these two Islands, keeping in mind constructions of more hotels and other tourism infrastructure in Shaheed Dweep and Swaraj Dweep in coming years.

Regarding the overall power needs of Andaman & Nicobar Islands, the Member of Parliament told the Secretary Power that considering the expansion of Tourism Infrastructure in Andaman & Nicobar Islands and also looking at several mega projects coming up under NITI Ayog, the electricity department must foresee the future and plan power generation for the Islands in such a manner that these Islands always have surplus power available for general public.