Port Blair, May 12: In response to the ongoing distress caused by frequent power outages in Ferrargunj Tehsil, a delegation of Panchayati Raj Institution (PRI) members and civil society representatives met with Mrs. Nandini Paliwal, IAS, Commissioner cum Secretary of Power on 10th May 2024, to discuss the persistent issue.
The delegation, which included notable local leaders such as Miss V. K. Mariyam Bibi, Ex Adhyaksha & Zilla Parishad member from Bambooflat, Smti Padmavati, Pramukh, Panchayat Samity, Ferrargunj, Shri A. Ummer and Vasudevan Nair, ZP members from Wimberlygunj and Mannar Ghat respectively; and MK Abdul Gafoor, Executive Member of the Citizen Forum, highlighted the severity of the power cuts, noting that the locality faces blackouts lasting 4-5 hours daily. They also pointed out the technical challenges with the power grid, which reportedly takes more than two hours to recharge after disruptions. They also raised the issue of shortage of technical staff at Bambooflat power house and requested for posting of permanent JE to resolve the issue immediately.
Mrs. Paliwal, addressing the delegation’s concerns, immediately contacted the Director of Power and the Superintending Engineer of Electricity, directing them to take swift action to alleviate the situation. She reassured the delegation that the Administration is actively working on initiatives to resolve the power supply issues permanently.
Furthermore, Mrs. Paliwal announced plans to visit Ferrargunj Tehsil soon to assess the situation first-hand and engage with the general public to better understand their hardships.
The meeting concluded with a sense of hopeful anticipation among the delegation members, who felt reassured by the Commissioner proactive stance. The Pradhan of Hope Town Panchayat, Up Pradhan of Bambooflat 2 panchayat and the Panchayat Samiti member from Kanyapuram, PRI member of Wimberlygunj who also accompanied the delegation, echoed a community-wide sentiment of urgency for resolving the power issues that have long troubled the residents of Ferrargunj Tehsil.