TURA, Aug 4: While power cuts have receded in most parts of the state, there seems to be no mitigation of the tribulations of residents of the plain-belt of Garo Hills, who continue to be agonised by power cuts for more than 12 hours every day.
What is even more damning for the people has been that when they finally do get electricity, the voltage is so low that candles shine better than an electric bulb.
The situation, as per locals, has been an ongoing episode for over two months now with the saga looking set to continue even as locals scratch not only their heads but also their bodies in the unrelenting heat of summer.
The entire plain-belt between Tikrikilla to Hallidayganj and beyond apparently has been suffering in the sweltering heat most of the day without electricity.
On an average, there are power cuts of more than 14 hours daily. While electricity finally arrives, the voltage is so low that charging phones becomes difficult.
What is even more interesting is the fact that despite hardly receiving electricity, bills have remained constant.
When contacted on the situation, locals claimed that no one was really aware as to what was happening or who had placed the daily 12-hour shutdown.
On a daily basis, electricity says goodbye early in the morning before returning in the evening. Coupled with the other unscheduled cuts, the area has not been getting current for close to 14 hours on a daily basis.
Most businesses in the town are currently running on generators with many houses using them to get proper sleep.
An average household, as per estimates from them, was spending a minimum of Rs 500 for fuel for generators due to the lack of electricity. In some bigger households and shops the daily expenses go beyond Rs 1,000 per day.
“Unless we use high-end stabilisers, the fan hardly moves. The situation becomes unbearable during nights as even in this heat, we can hardly sleep during nights. With mosquitoes for company, the entire night is a nightmare,” said a resident of Chibinang, Masud Hasif.
The 12-hour shutdown is but one of the problems being faced as even when there is electricity, the voltage is low and hardly helpful to anyone.
Some claimed that it was only for about 1-2 hours that proper voltage would be available.
Currently the management of electricity into most of the plain-belt has been given to Feedback Energy Distribution Company Limited (FEDCO). Many local residents complained that the situation has gone beyond control due to the private company being given the responsibility.
However company officials stated that they are in no way responsible for what was happening.
“We are only receiving about 19KV on the 33KV line and as such the distribution is being hit. This is the same in all parts of the plain-belt. Unless we receive the entire volume, we cannot distribute it. Further we have nothing to do with the distribution or generation of electricity. We are only managing what is being sent,” said an official on the condition of anonymity.
He, however, was oblivious to the reason for the shutdown for over 12 hours every day.
Meanwhile Phulbari MLA SG Esmatur Mominin stated that the matter of poor state of electricity was being looked into.
He believes there is a solution to the problem but that would need the upcoming MeECL substation in Chibinang to be made functional and the station charged.
That, however, is not expected to happen overnight and until then, residents of the plain-belt will continue to suffer in the sweltering summer heat.
