Port Blair, 13 August 2024:
Shri Bishnu Pada Ray, the Hon’ble Member of Parliament for the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, met with Shri Manohar Lal Khattar, the Hon’ble Union Minister of Power, Government of India, to address the ongoing power crisis affecting the Islands, particularly in the capital city of Port Blair. During the meeting, held yesterday, Shri Ray once again submitted a detailed letter outlining the persistent and severe power issues that have plagued the region for years.
Severe Power Shortage in Port Blair In his letter, Shri Ray highlighted the critical power shortages in Port Blair, where residents have endured frequent and prolonged power cuts. He emphasized that despite the long-standing nature of the problem, no effective corrective measures have been implemented to alleviate the situation. The current power infrastructure falls short of meeting the city’s demands, causing significant inconvenience and hardship for the local population.
Port Blair, the administrative hub of the Islands, requires an average of 45 MW of power. However, the combined output from all available power sources, including the Department’s 4 MW power plants, is insufficient to meet this demand, leading to widespread power outages.
Power Crisis Across the Islands Shri Ray further pointed out that the power crisis extends beyond Port Blair, affecting all populated islands in the Andaman and Nicobar Territory. The outdated 33 KV and 11 KV tie lines in Port Blair are particularly problematic, requiring immediate upgrading to mitigate the ongoing power cuts. In addition to the technical issues, Shri Ray also emphasized the need for the revival of the Superintending Engineer (SE) post in the Electricity Department and the upgrading of the position to Chief Engineer (CE) to ensure effective management and resolution of the power crisis.
Invitation to Union Power Minister In a proactive step, Shri Ray invited the Hon’ble Union Power Minister to visit the Andaman and Nicobar Islands to witness the ground realities and gain firsthand knowledge of the challenges faced by the people. Recognizing the seriousness of the situation, Shri Manohar Lal Khattar assured Shri Ray that he would visit the Islands in October this year to assess the situation and explore potential solutions.
The meeting underscores the urgent need for intervention at the highest levels to resolve the power crisis in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, ensuring reliable electricity supply and improving the quality of life for its residents.
