From Our Correspondent
Tura, Sep 6: Angered at the continued laxity shown by FEDCO, the company that is in charge of power under the Dadenggre subdivision, the Chibinang unit of the FKJGP has decided to picket their offices in Phulbari till the company rectifies the situation in the region.
The picketing of the offices will begin on Sep 10 and as per the president continue till a solution is brought. The power scene in the home constituency of the power minister, AT Mondal (Phulbari) is pathetic at best and continues to remain poor despite efforts.
Currently testing for the opening of the Chibinang grid is ongoing though another issue has taken over in nearby Tirkikilla through which the power lines were to be drawn. “We are facing a problem with drawing power lines due to some people objecting and refusing to give the Right of Way (ROW) for the lines to be worked out. Testing for most of the other parts has been done and once the ROW is sorted out, the power scenario should become normal,” informed Mondal during a recent visit.
Phulbari, along with most of the plain belt has been suffering various issues with electricity, including low voltage, innumerable power cuts, extended shutdowns (unlike the rest of the state) as well as inflated power bills, despite electricity hardly reaching consumers. Interestingly low voltage has been a recurrent problem for over a decade in Phulbari and despite efforts has not been sorted.
“We get only about 120 volts of power whereas the normal voltage is about 230 Volts. Further the number of power cuts is uncountable and we have forgotten how many hours of official shutdowns (load shedding) is prevalent. We definitely get more than what the rest of the state gets,” said unit president Binoth Sangma. Sangma said the situation was currently unbearable especially in the time of the current summer heat. “Someone has to understand our plight and think of how we feel. Unless FEDCO rectifies the situation, we will continue our agitation,” informed Binoth.