Sheekha Bureau
Kamorta, Sept. 18: Repeated and prolonged load shedding has disrupted normal life in Kamorta, with power cuts extending for several hours at a stretch and affecting households, public services and other essential activities dependent on regular electricity supply.
According to a communication issued by the Office of the Assistant Engineer, Electricity Department, Kamorta Sub Division, dated September 17, the load shedding has been necessitated by a delay in the dispatch of High Speed Diesel (HSD) from Sri Vijaya Puram to the Kamorta Power House. The department stated that rotational load shedding was being implemented to reduce the impact of the fuel shortage and that the arrangement would continue until adequate quantities of HSD were received.
As per the schedule issued by the department, different areas are facing power cuts at different times. From 9 AM to 1 PM, load shedding is scheduled between the APWD EE Office and Kakana and Pilipilow, followed by the Bazar area, Machibashthi and Nicobari Basthi from 1 PM to 3 PM. The APWD EE Office to Kakana and Pilipilow areas are again scheduled for load shedding from 3 PM to 5 PM.
From 5 PM to 11 PM, the entire area, except Government departments having backup DG sets, is affected. The schedule further provides for island-wide load shedding from 11 PM to 5 AM, followed by the APWD EE Office to Kakana and Pilipilow areas from 5 AM to 7 AM and the Bazar area, Machibashthi and Nicobari Basthi from 7 AM to 9 AM. Champion Island is also scheduled to remain without power from 11 PM to 5 AM.
While the Electricity Department has attributed the situation to delayed HSD dispatch, the circumstances leading to the shortage have raised questions among residents. If the disruption was caused by delayed fuel supply, residents are seeking clarification on why adequate buffer stock or contingency arrangements were not maintained at Kamorta to prevent such extensive load shedding.
Questions have also been raised over when the shortage was first anticipated, whether replenishment was sought in time, what caused the delay in dispatch from Sri Vijaya Puram and whether alternative arrangements were explored before the situation affected electricity generation.
Residents said operational difficulties can occur, but any delay in the fuel supply chain should ideally be addressed through advance planning and adequate reserves so that the burden does not fall on the public through prolonged power cuts. They also questioned why a delay within the official supply system should result in households and essential public services facing extended disruption.
A resident, requesting anonymity, alleged that people approaching the local Junior Engineer’s office for information about the outages do not always receive proper responses. The resident alleged that officials sometimes fail to adequately communicate the reasons for the prolonged power cuts or provide clarity regarding their duration.
Andaman Sheekha Daily attempted to contact the Assistant Engineer of the Kamorta Sub Division for clarification. Despite multiple attempts, the officer could not be reached over the phone. The situation now warrants examination by SE office in Sri Vijaya Puram. Apart from addressing the immediate HSD shortage, authorities may need to examine whether adequate fuel stock was maintained, whether replenishment was planned in time, what caused the reported dispatch delay and whether timely contingency measures were attempted.
If shortcomings occurred at any stage of stock management, replenishment planning, transportation or communication, the circumstances may need to be examined and responsibility fixed in accordance with applicable rules.
For residents, the immediate concern is restoration of a stable electricity supply and clarity regarding how long the restrictions will continue. They have urged the Superintending Engineer and other senior officials to intervene and address the situation.
They have further called for adequate contingency arrangements so that any future delay in HSD supply does not again result in prolonged power cuts affecting residents and essential public services.
