R Karthik Raja & Vikramaditya
Mayabunder, June 29: Residents of Hanspuri, a remote and historically significant village in Mayabunder Tehsil of North & Middle Andaman, have renewed their demand for 24-hour electricity supply. Currently, the village receives only seven hours of power daily—from 4:00 AM to 6:00 AM and from 5:00 PM to 10:00 PM—posing significant challenges to the daily lives and livelihoods of its 700–750 residents.
Hanspuri is primarily inhabited by members of the Ranchi community, who were originally brought from Jharkhand in 1918 for developmental work in the Andaman Islands. In 1963, they were formally resettled in this village, and since then, have become an integral part of the region’s cultural and agricultural fabric.
A government primary school was set up in Hanspuri in 1969, followed by the establishment of a power house in 1987 by the Electricity Department. However, the electricity provision has remained minimal ever since. Villagers say that in today’s modern age, seven hours of power is simply not enough—especially for students, elderly people, and farmers who rely on electricity for various activities, including irrigation, storage, and communications.
Mr. Johnson Kerketta, Pradhan of Gram Panchayat Chainpur, under which Hanspuri falls, has repeatedly raised this issue in Gram Sabha meetings and with district authorities. He emphasized that uninterrupted power would significantly improve the quality of life and boost agricultural productivity, as most villagers are engaged in farming.
It has recently come to light that the Electricity Department, Mayabunder, has submitted a proposal to enhance the electricity supply under e-file no. 95037. However, the present status of the proposal remains unclear, and villagers are still waiting for official confirmation and action.
In a fresh effort to push the matter forward, Mr. Kerketta met with the Chief Secretary of A&N Islands on June 26, personally briefing him about the village’s long-standing electricity woes. The Chief Secretary reportedly assured him that the file would be expedited and necessary action would be taken to ensure round-the-clock power supply to Hanspuri.
With hopes renewed, the villagers now await a timely resolution to this decades-old problem. They continue to appeal to the administration to act swiftly and decisively so that Hanspuri can finally enjoy the basic amenity of 24×7 electricity, which they believe is long overdue.
