Port Blair, Aug 31: Writing a letter to the Lt Governor with copy to the Chief Secretary, AN Administration, Mr. Kuldeep Rai Sharma, President, PCC has apprised them that the Electricity Department of A & N Administration is headed by a Superintending Engineer and supported by seven divisions employed with 3,336 technical and non technical staff.
The department is entrusted with the responsibility of power generation, distribution and revenue collection for the entire Islands. Unlike mainland, the power generation in these islands are primarily done through DG sets installed at various distant locations.
Mr. Sharma also mentioned in his letter that the post of Superintending Engineer was created way back during the year 1980 and at that point of time the power generated by the department was to the tune of 11 MG through 18 power houses whereas the present power requirement of the Islands is to the tune of 70 MW and around 40 power houses are in operation.
The power scenario of Andaman and Nicobar Islands has witnessed a rapid increase in demand and to cater to the need of the islanders the department need to be strengthened by way of augmentation of man power and also the infrastructures.
Also to combat the eventualities which we have recently witnessed in form severe power cut in South Andaman due to failure of DG sets, there is a need to upgrade the technical competency of the Electricity department by way of appointing an officer of the level of the Chief Engineer.
Advocating for the Electricity department, Mr Sharma has stated that the proposal for up gradation of the post of Supdt Engineer to the Chief Engineer is resting with the Administration for over a decade which needs to be expedited so as to enhance the technical and administrative competency of the department besides generating employment opportunity for the islanders.
