Port Blair, April 29: The CPI (M) today staged a mass demonstration in front of the office of the Superintending Engineer, Electricity Department at Port Blair at 4.45 p.m. to protest against the frequent power disruptions in the Port Blair town and rural South Andaman areas. Taking into consideration the social distancing norms, etc., only limited number of party leaders and workers participated in the programme. 

Addressing the gathering, Shri D. Ayyappan, Secretary, CPI (M) A&N State Organising Committee criticized the central government and Andaman & Nicobar Administration for the present electricity crisis in the islands. He said that the BJP-led government is going to privatise the Electricity Department of Andaman & Nicobar Islands in the name of Atmanirbhar Bharat.  He said that the power crisis has been created to favour the privatization of Electricity Department. 

The BJP-led government could not do anything in their 8 years of rule since 2014 to improve the power generation in Andaman & Nicobar Islands. The big projects announced by the Prime Minister and the government remain only on the paper. He said that people at large and students particularly are facing hardship due to the unscheduled and unannounced power cuts throughout the day and night. Board examinations are going on and the government has no concern on the future of the students. He said that business community, media, office work, banking and insurance sector are all adversely affected due to the continuous power disruption.  

Addressing the participants, Shri B. Chandachoodan, State Secretariat Member said that the present situation is the outcome of inefficient handling by the A&N Administration and its Electricity Department. Shri D. Laxman Rao, State Secretariat Member demanded immediate steps to ensure uninterrupted power supply. CPI (M) leaders Dr Gouranga Majhi, Shri SP Kalairajan and Shri P. Banerjee were also present.