Sri Vijaya Puram, August 4: As the Andaman and Nicobar Islands reel under prolonged and erratic power cuts, concerns are mounting among residents of Sri Vijayapuram and surrounding areas. In a strong representation to the Superintending Engineer of the Electricity Department, social worker and LG Commendation Awardee Smt. VD Leju has raised alarm over what she described as a “systemic power failure” across Ferrargunj and Sri Vijayapuram tehsils.
In her detailed letter, Leju pointed out that power cuts lasting 2 to 4 hours or more every day have become routine, with residents often experiencing multiple outages in a single day. While official explanations range from load shedding to technical faults, the persistent nature of the issue has sparked fears of long-term infrastructural collapse.
One of the primary concerns flagged was the territory’s over-reliance on ageing diesel-based power plants, which are not only outdated but increasingly unreliable due to logistical challenges in fuel supply. Moreover, the absence of emergency backup systems means even minor faults trigger widespread blackouts.
Though a 50 MW LNG-based plant by NTPC is under development, it is not expected to be operational before 2027–28. Leju has warned that this delay leaves a dangerous power vacuum in the immediate years, especially from September 2025, when a hired generation plant’s contract is due to expire — a move that could lead to an additional 5 MW shortfall.
Currently, a notice by the Electricity Department dated 30 July 2025 has already acknowledged a deficit of 8–10 MW in the region, with the closure of the Chatham-based NVVN plant for replacement adding to the pressure.
The letter appeals to the department to immediately disclose contingency plans post-September 2025, deploy temporary power solutions, overhaul critical infrastructure, and enhance public communication on load shedding schedules and emergency response services.
Leju further cautioned that any worsening of the crisis during the upcoming tourist season could lead to a “humanitarian and economic disaster”, affecting not just comfort and safety, but also the livelihoods of thousands dependent on tourism-related work.
“This is not merely an inconvenience,” Leju stated. “It’s a crisis that threatens the health, economy, and dignity of our people.”
The public now awaits concrete action and transparency from the administration to avoid a full-blown electricity crisis in the months ahead.
