Sri Vijaya Puram, July 31: Mr. Rakeshwar Lall, State President of Hindu Rashtra Shakti, has written a strongly worded letter to senior officials and ministers of the Government of India, highlighting the severe hardship faced by the residents of Andaman and Nicobar Islands due to chronic and prolonged power failures.
Addressing the Union Minister of Power Mr. Manohar Lal, Renewable Energy Minister, Mr. Pralhad Joshi, Secretary of Power, Mr. Pankaj Agarwal, and other senior officials, including the Member of Parliament Mr. Bishnu Pada Ray and the Lt. Governor Sri Vijay Puram, Mr. Lall expressed grave concern over the collapse of basic electricity infrastructure in the islands.
In the letter, Lall stated that due to incessant power outages, essential household electronic devices such as refrigerators, inverters, and televisions have been severely damaged. “Residents are being forced to pay electricity bills for power that was never delivered. It is unacceptable that despite promises of 24×7 electricity supply, consumers are being charged during long blackouts,” he wrote.
Describing the ground reality, Mr. Lall said the situation has become unbearable for the island’s most vulnerable citizens. “Women are struggling with daily chores as food spoils and appliances remain non-functional. Elderly residents relying on medical equipment are living in constant fear. Infants suffer without proper preservation of milk. Students cannot study due to darkness. The administration’s apathy has turned a basic service into a luxury,” he stated.
Demanding urgent action in public interest, Mr. Lall called for:
• An immediate online survey to assess the extent of damage to electronic appliances,
• Full compensation to consumers for their losses,
• Recovery of compensation costs from the salaries of negligent officials in the Electricity Department,
• Disciplinary action against those responsible, and
• A six-month waiver of electricity bills for all affected consumers.
He warned that if no concrete action is taken, mass protests would be launched across the islands. “The suffering of the islanders must end now,” he concluded.
The letter, which was sent to top officials in both the Power and Renewable Energy Ministries, adds pressure on authorities to take urgent remedial steps to address the growing public outrage over electricity failures in the Union Territory.
