Rabindranath Biswas
Calicut, July 06: The Pradhan, Gram Panchayat Calicut, Mr. T. Yaghambaram has raised several electricity infrastructure issues being faced by the residents of Gram Panchayat Calicut.
According to information, the Pradhan said that the increasing population and rapid development within this region have led to a significant surge in electricity demand, which, regrettably, is not being adequately met by the current, outdated infrastructure. These persistent problems have been repeatedly communicated to various officers within the administration through numerous letters and direct instances, he claimed.
While a handful of minor issues were reportedly partially addressed following their persistent requests, the vast majority of these critical concerns continue to plague the community in the region, the Pradhand fumed. Furthermore, these issues have been consistently raised and deliberated by the public during Gram Sabhas and are formally incorporated into both the Gram Sabha resolutions and the Annual Plan of the Gram Panchayat Calicut, the Pradhan informed.
The continued inaction from the Department of Power, despite these official channels of communication and public mandates, indicates a concerning lack of responsiveness towards both public grievances and the resolutions of the Gram Sabha, Mr. Yaghambaram vehemently alleged.
Speaking to Andaman Sheekha Daily, the Pradhan said that he has recently written a letter addressed to the Secretary (Power), A & N Administration, Sri Vijaya Puram and apprised him of the alleged fragile electric infrastructure in the region. There are a few specific issues that demand the authority’s immediate and comprehensive attention; and severe shortage of electric poles and lack of street lighting is one of them, he informed.
There is reportedly a grave and pervasive shortage of electric poles dedicated to streetlights across all areas under Gram Panchayat Calicut, he said. This deficit has reportedly resulted in dangerously poor visibility at night, transforming our roads and public spaces into high-risk zones, he added. This situation poses a significant safety hazard to all residents, particularly pedestrians and commuters, increasing the likelihood of accidents and criminal activities, he claimed in the letter. To address this critical concern, the Gram Sabha has officially approved the requirement of 200 additional electric poles for the financial year 2024-25, and further requirements are projected for 2025-26 to meet growing needs, the Pradhan maintained. The Pradhan then reportedly implored the authority to expedite the procurement, delivery and installation of these poles with the utmost urgency to significantly enhance the safety and security of their community, he said. He further added that the alarming prevalence of numerous dangling and poorly secured electric cables throughout the area constitutes a serious and immediate threat to the lives of both humans and animals. These old, often damaged and exposed cables are not only a direct electrocution hazard but also pose various other risks, including fire, the Pradhan forewarned.
The Pradhan demanded immediate and decisive action to replace these hazardous and outdated cables with new and insulated ones, or to properly secure the existing infrastructure to prevent further accidents and ensure public safety. Ward nos. 03, 04, 05, 06 and 07 are reportedly experiencing persistent and severe voltage issues. He said that he is inundated with daily complaints from residents regarding incessant voltage fluctuations.
These erratic power supplies not only cause immense inconvenience but also pose a significant risk of damage to valuable electrical appliances and equipment, imposing financial burdens on households and businesses, Mr. Yaghambaram said. The existing transformers are reportedly clearly unable to cope with the rising electricity demand, necessitating the immediate installation of additional transformers to ensure a stable and reliable power supply, the Pradhan insisted.
On the other hand, residents have raised serious concerns regarding excess billing under the smart meter system, he added. In many cases, the billed amounts are abnormally high and inconsistent with actual consumption, the Pradhan informed. Moreover, there is reportedly no proper or transparent meter reading practice in place, making it extremely difficult for the public to verify or contest their bilis, the Calicut Pradhan further wrote in his letter.
To make matters worse, when residents approach the local site office to seek clarification or resolution, they are reportedly often met with unclear responses or no concrete assistance at all, the Pradhan alleged. This lack of accountability and proper grievance redressal is further aggravating public frustration, especially for economically vulnerable families who are unable to pay these inflated bills, he claimed. Immediate intervention is required to ensure accurate billing, clear communication, and a responsive support mechanism at the ground level, the Pradhan urged.
There have been multiple complaints from residents regarding excessive delays in obtaining new electricity connections, despite fulfilling all formalities was another issue raised by the Pradhan. As per Regulation 5.46 of the Joint Electricity Regulatory Commission (JERC), new connections are to be provided within 30 working days from the date of application, the Pradhan argued. However, in many cases, connections are being reportedly delayed for 3 months or more, which is a clear violation of regulatory norms, the Pradhan claimed.
Moreover, applicants are reportedly being forced to visit the site office multiple times to follow up on their requests, often without receiving any definite response or resolution, the Pradhan said. This has caused immense inconvenience, especially for those from remote areas and marginalized sections of society, he rued. Immediate steps must be taken to streamline the process, ensure accountability, and adhere to the mandated timelines, Shri Yaghambaram demanded.
In view of the gravity of the aforementioned grievances, the Pradhan earestly requested the authority’s immediate and personal attention to these pressing matters.
However, if these critical problems are not reportedly resolved to a satisfactory extent within 45 days from the date of this letter, the Panchayati Raj Institute members of Gram Panchayat Calicut, in solidarity with the affected residents, will be compelled to organize and hold a peaceful but resolute strike against the department until all outstanding issues are comprehensively addressed and resolved, the Calicut Pradhan threatened in his concluding remarks.
