Port Blair, June 30: The CPI (M) has urged the Government of India to send a high level technical delegation to Andaman & Nicobar Islands to study the causes of power crisis in the islands. D. Ayyappan, Secretary, CPI (M), Andaman & Nicobar State Organising Committee during his recent visit to Delhi submitted a letter to the Secretary (Power), Government of India on the issues relating to the power sector in Andaman and Nicobar Islands. He further demanded to take all necessary steps to increase the power generation in Andaman & Nicobar Islands on an urgent basis considering the fact that power cut of 5 to 6 hours daily are being resorted to in many parts of the South Andaman and North and Middle Andaman Districts.
He stated in the letter that at present, the power is generated through diesel generation, solar power generation and Hydroelectric generation (in Diglipur, North Andaman). Besides the Electricity Department of the A & N Administration, a number of other agencies including private firms are involved in the power generation in the islands.
CPI (M) Secretary told the Secretary (Power), Govt. of India that there is complete mismanagement, chaos and unplanned implementation at all levels in the power sector in Andaman & Nicobar Islands, resulting in disruption to power supply for several hours in a day. He further said that whichever agency engaged by the A & N Administration and Govt. of India have completely failed to generate electricity to the required level, causing unexplainable difficulties for the islanders especially those residing in the South Andaman District and North & Middle Andaman District.
Ayyappan further informed the Secretary (Power) Govt. of India that the power crisis has been haunting the islanders for the last several years. During the last one, the situation further aggravated leading to several hours of power cut daily. The Electricity Department was unable to provide uninterrupted power even during the Board Examination of students. CPI (M) Secretary further said that the assurances of mega projects announced by the Prime Minister during his visit to the islands in December, 2018 did not benefit the islanders till now and further said that all sections of people including Business establishments, shopkeepers have been adversely affected by the irregular power supply.
CPI (M) Secretary further stated in the letter that the authorities in the islands do not give any explanation for such intermittent power cut resorted to by the Electricity Department. He referred to the proposal submitted to the Ministry of Power by the Andaman & Nicobar Administration for the revival of departmental power houses in the islands and urged the Secretary (Power) to accord approval for the same.