V Senthil Kumar & John Wilbert
Rangat, Sep 21: Rangat Electricity Department, Middle Andaman is facing a shortage of service vehicles. Lack of service vehicles has created immense difficulties for the residents as the Electricity Department, which is already reeling under shortage of staff, is now unable to attend complaints on time.
Andaman Sheekha has already reported about the pathetic condition of the Electricity Department in the entire Middle Andaman region but there is almost no changes in ground level. Most of the site offices in North and Middle Andaman lack sufficient number of Linesmen, Meter-Readers and Labourers and adding to that now all the service Vehicles (Trucks) are in breakdown condition, in Rangat Unit, since last one month.
It was reported that in case of any fault in power lines, the staff of Rangat Electricity unit are compelled to use their own vehicles to reach to the site and even have to carry the heavy ladders on their shoulders. In many cases, customers have to assist the staff in carrying the equipment and transportation.
When Andaman Sheekha contacted a senior officer of the Electricity Department, he informed that it has become extremely difficult to keep all old vehicles in running condition. The officer said that in the present case, spare-parts for the grounded vehicles have already been ordered.
The officer added that, due to the Administrative reasons, it is not possible to buy new vehicles, therefore, repairing these old vehicles is the only option left.
