Baratang, October 11: One older Diesel Generator set currently in operation at Baratang Electricity Site office for Baratang region is in a bad shape, allege PRI members of the region as they are suffering 4-5 hours long power cuts on daily basis.
According to the residents of the Baratang area, most of the time, whenever there is power supply,the voltage is so low that even ceiling fans rotate in half speed.
Surprisingly, two new Diesel Generator Sets were sent toBaratang Electricity Site Office in the month of February 2020 but these DG sets have not been pressed into service yet, for reasons unknown.
“Whenever we raise a concern about the power cuts to the authorities, they say that the generator is under maintenance,” alleged a resident of the region on the condition of anonymity.
As per reliable sources in the Electricity Department, the workers of the Electricity Site Office Baratang, are working for the maintenance of the Diesel Generator set every week on Saturday with the aim to keep it operational for some more days.
When in the month of June 2020, Andaman Sheekhahad approached the Superintendent Engineer, Electricity Department, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Er. Ajit Bernard, he said that the reason behind the delay was the lockdown.
However, during the time he had said that the instructions were given to the contractor to start the functioning of the DG sets by mid of July 2020, which never happened.
The lack of interest shown by the authorities of the Electricity Department may force the people of the region suffer badly during the time of any natural calamity, as according to the residents of the Baratang region, half the time power is supplied to the Baratang area from Rangat and in times when there is any problem in the lines at Rangat, there is a power cut in the Baratang region.
“If in coming days the presently operational DG set develops snags, we will be in total blackout,” said a resident of the Baratang area.
Andaman Sheekha tried to contact the SE, Electricity Department even today but his voice was not audible, he also didn’t reply to the message sent to him.
