From Our Correspondent
TURA, May 21: Peeved at frequent power disruptions and the lack of timely maintenance and repair of tower lines due to staff shortages in MePDCL Baghmara—and the consequent hardship faced by residents of South Garo Hills district, including students, offices, hospitals and emergency services—a social activist from Baghmara has called for the recruitment of additional linemen and office staff, and for the immediate commencement of the tower line project.
Social activist Greneth M. Sangma of Baghmara has written to Chief Minister Conrad Sangma through the deputy commissioner, highlighting the plight of the people in the district due to regular power failures and disruptions affecting students, daily office operations, hospitals and emergency services.
Drawing the chief minister’s attention to the lack of manpower in MePDCL Baghmara, which currently has only 13 staff members, the activist said that having sufficient staff is crucial for timely maintenance and repair of power lines, which is essential for regional development.
He then called for the recruitment of at least 36 linemen and other staff for efficient service delivery.
The activist also recalled that, as per his application on May 17, 2021, the upgrade of the Baghmara Division Office had been sanctioned and implemented. However, to his dismay, the tower line project from Nongalbibra to Baghmara still remains pending despite being sanctioned.
He, therefore, sought immediate action to start this project, as well as the Sibbari Grid Substation.
Additionally, he called for the installation of new grid substations at Karukul, Rongru Asim and Mindikgre, stating that ordinary post lines are prone to disturbances due to several factors, including weather conditions, and that the installation of tower lines would minimise such disruptions.