Port Blair, March 10: The Andaman & Nicobar Territorial Congress Committee leaders on Friday opposed the several wrong policies executed by the Electricity Department in the Union Territory during a public hearing conducted by the Joint Electricity Regulatory Commission (JERC).
NSUI State President Shri. M.A Sajid submitted his objections before the Hon'ble Member of JERC who presided over the hearing. Sajid asked the Hon'ble JERC member to visit his home for 3 hours and it will be evident that around 30 times unexpected power cuts are carried out by the Electricity Department.
He pointed out that, at the time of 10th & 12th board exams, this type of act by the Electricity Department is unjustifiable and has caused immense trouble for students.
He also criticized the Electricity Department for increasing the power tariff without taking suggestions from Stakeholders, Elected Representatives and Social Workers. He said that if the Electricity Department wants to increase tariffs then they must provide 24*7 electricity.
Further, Sajid enlightened the Hon'ble JERC Member that due to frequent power cuts electronic appliances in several households have been destroyed. The Electricity Department must take responsibility for it and provide some compensation to the people.
He said that, nowadays electricity bills are generated digitally due to which poor people are unable to distinguish the actual consumption of electricity.
He further highlighted that from the past 5 years there are no regular Superintending Engineer, Chief Engineer & Executive Engineer appointed in the Electricity Department which hampers the smooth functioning of the department.
He suggested that, if the Electricity Department is not capable of functioning appropriately then it must be handed over to the Defence Forces so that the public can get relief.
Sajid challenged the Electricity Department in the presence of Hon'ble JERC Member to disclose the annual budget of the Electricity Department in A&N Islands for which the officials of Electricity Department didn't give response.
Finally, he criticized the Electricity Department for not conducting public awareness regarding the organizing of JERC public hearings due to which very few people only attended the programme and to eye wash the Hon'ble JERC Member, the staffs and officers of Electricity Department were made to sit in the hearing.
ANTCC Treasurer Shri. A.R Manickam, Congress leaders Shri. Dheeraj Singh and Smt. Bindu Kumari also spoke on behalf of Congress Party while Ex-DCC Secretary Shri. Abdul Shabir and Congress leader Smt. Fathima Imtiaz were present on the occasion.