Vikramaditya
Port Blair, Oct 26: Swaraj Dweep Island is currently engulfed in a severe power crisis, leading to widespread distress among residents, tourists, and local businesses. The island has been experiencing prolonged power outages, with some areas facing blackouts lasting 12 to 16 hours daily.
The situation has severely impacted daily life, leaving the local populace and visitors in a state of distress. Talking to Andaman Sheekha Daily, Mr. Ajith Kumar Roy, the Pradhan of Govind Nagar Panchayat of Swaraj Dweep, revealed the gravity of the situation. “Every two hours, the island is plunged into darkness, and these power cuts last for extended periods,” he stated. According to Mr. Roy, technical issues with the DG sets of the Andaman & Nicobar Administration are responsible for this crisis. Currently, the island has six DG sets, two operated by a private party and four by the administration.
Efforts by the Andaman Sheekha team to reach both the JEs of Swaraj Dweep over phone were unsuccessful, as their contact numbers were unreachable.
Smaller hotels without significant power backup are facing immense difficulties. Hotel owners are forced to purchase fuel for their DG sets, incurring substantial added expenses. One hotel owner shared their plight with Andaman Sheekha, stating, “In just one day, we’ve used fuel worth Rs 60,000 for our hotel’s DG Set due to the power cuts. Under such circumstances, conducting business in Swaraj Dweep is challenging.”
This power crisis is not only causing hardships for the local residents but also leaving tourists dissatisfied. This, in turn, is adversely affecting the Andaman tourism industry, as visitors leave the island with negative experiences.
The Administration must immediately look into this issue and restore normalcy for its residents and to preserve the island’s reputation as a tourist haven.
