Port Blair, Mar 10: The Andaman & Nicobar Territorial Congress Committee leaders on Friday opposed the several wrong policies executed by the Electricity Department in the Union Territory during a public hearing conducted by the Joint Electricity Regulatory Commission (JERC).
NSUI State President Mr. M.A Sajid submitted his objections before the Member of JERC who presided over the hearing. Mr. M.A Sajid asked the JERC member to visit his home for 3 hours and it will be evident that around 30 times unexpected power cuts are carried out by the Electricity Department. He pointed out, at the time of 10th & 12th board exams; this type of act by the Electricity Department is unjustifiable and has caused immense trouble for students.
He also criticized the Electricity Department for increasing the power tariff without taking suggestions from Stakeholders, Elected Representatives and Social Workers. He said that if the Electricity Department wants to increase tariffs then they must provide 24*7 electricity.
Further, Mr. M.A Sajid enlightened the JERC Member that due to frequent power cuts electronic appliances in several households have been destroyed. The Electricity Department must take responsibility for it and provide some compensation to the people.
He said that, nowadays electricity bills are generated digitally due to which poor people are unable to distinguish the actual censurability of electricity.
He further highlighted that from the past 5 years there are no regular Superintending Engineer, Chief Engineer & Executive Engineer appointed in the Electricity Department which hampers the smooth functioning of the department.
He suggested that, if the Electricity Department is not capable of functioning appropriately then it must be handover to Defense forces so that the public can get relief.
Mr. M.A Sajid questioned the Electricity Department in the presence of JERC Member to disclose the annual budget of the Electricity Department in A&N Islands for which the officials of Electricity Department didn’t give a response.
Finally, he criticized the Electricity Department for not conducting public awareness regarding the organizing of JERC public hearings due to which very few people attended the programme and to eye wash the JERC Member, the staffs and officers of Electricity Department were made to sit in the hearing.
ANTCC Treasurer Mr. A.R Manickam, Congress leader Mr. Dheeraj Singh and Mrs. Bindu Kumari also spoke on behalf of Congress Party while Ex-DCC Secretary Mr. Abdul Shabir and Congress leader Mrs. Fathima Imtiaz were present on the occasion.
