Bhubaneswar: Amid frequent power outages at different places across the State, Chief Secretary Pradeep Jena on Monday asked Tata Power to ensure uninterrupted electricity supply to the people during the peak summer season.
Chief Secretary Shri Jena held a review meeting to take stock of the situation. Top officials of the power distribution companies and Energy department attended the meeting.
Sources said the Chief Secretary directed the power distribution companies to promptly address electricity supply problems. The distribution companies were asked take immediate steps whenever power disruption is reported and to carry out restoration swiftly particularly after nor’wester.
He stressed the need for proper coordination between the Energy department and power distribution companies.
The DISCOMs were asked to take immediate steps when they receive complaints from consumers on the phone. They were also asked to respond immediately on complaints posted in social media.
Meanwhile, the student wing activists of the Congress Monday pelted tomatoes at the residence of the Energy Minister Pratap Keshari Deb in protest of frequent ‘power cut’ in many parts of the state including capital city Bhubaneswar at the peak of summer.
Hundreds of Chhatra Congress supporters carrying lanterns and handmade palm leaf fans shouted slogans and pelted tomatoes at the residence of the Minister in protest.
The Chhatra Congress activists also scuffled with the security personnel while they tried to forcefully enter the residence of the Minister and the security personnel prevented them. The Congress activists demanded the resignation of Deb.
Led by Chhatra Congress President Yashir Nawaz the agitators also sat on dharna in front of the residence of the Minister.
While the people were facing a lot of trouble due to heat wave conditions and frequent undeclared power cuts, the Minister, instead of trying to ensure uninterrupted supply power was talking like an agent of the power Utility Tata Power Corporation, Shri Nawaz said.
The Chhatra congress leader alleged that there was no improvement in the power situation even after the government spent crores of rupees for power infrastructure. He alleged that power is being cut for hours in the capital city Bhubaneswar, one can imagine the situation in rural areas.
“When the Chief Secretary and a MP from the ruling party have accepted the frequent power cut in Bhubaneswar, the Minister is not ready to accept it. How much share he got from the Rs 20,000 crore spent for power infrastructure development?” he asked.
Despite repeated demands, the Minister failed to ensure uninterrupted power supply to the people. So, he should step back from his position, demanded the student Congress leader.
In a related development, the power supply got snapped all of a sudden at an event at Bahanaga in Balasore, when Minister Pratap Kesari Deb was there to pay tribute to the train tragedy victims.
As soon as the program began, which was attended by many senior leaders, the power supply went off.
The power outage at the Energy Minister’s event occurred at a time when the entire State is under the grip of scorching heat coupled with unbearable humidity.
No one could figure out how the electricity supply was disrupted. While electricity back up was arranged with a power generator, normal supply was restored later.
When the newsmen questioned Shri Deb about the power cut, he kept mum and chose to avoid the reporters.
Earlier, the Minister had said that there was no power cut in the State and blamed poor infrastructure as the reason behind power outages. Power is being cut to undertake repair work, he had said.