Mobilenews24x7 Bureau
BJP to hold protest demonstration across Odisha against power cuts
Blistering heat accompanied by extreme humidity have been exacerbated by the frequent power cuts in Bhubaneswar as well in many places across the state.
Tata Power, company which is the nodal distributor unwilling to move towards any compensatory step to reduce the power cuts during the sizzling days and nights.
The Odisha Electric Regulatory Commission(OERC) which requires to play the monitoring body to keep a check on the tariff and distribution seems dipped in a comfort of silence.
Power tariff is on a climb up in a cascading pattern which drills many holes in consumer’s wallet.
The main opposition party in Odisha, the Bharatiya Janata Party(BJP) has tried to high light the problems and is holding demonstrations on June 14 & 15 against the undeclared power cuts.
The BJP has alleged that, for whatever reason the Tata Power does not pay any heed to public appeals and the power cuts have become a regular feature. .
BJP’s State general secretary Prithviraj Harichndan told Mobilenews24x7 over the phone that “ neither the government nor Tata power are responding to protests lodged by consumers, intellectuals, media, voluntary organisations and various political parties over the unscheduled power cuts”.
Tata Power, which has taken the responsibility of supplying uninterrupted power, is violating all norms of the agreement and resorting to undeclared power cuts for 4 to 5 hours in rural areas and innumerable times in urban areas.
Harichandan said Bhubaneswar and several other places of the state have witnessed hours-long power cuts due to norwester which lasted for a few minutes only.
The modernisation of the power infrastructure in Odisha started in 1995 and thousands of crores of rupees were spent.
Though Tata Power is using all the infrastructure free but still it failed to supply uninterrupted power to the consumers.
He alleged that the company has illegally collected Rs 2727 crore violating the norms of OERC. Though an order was issued to refund the money, the company has not yet done it so far.
Why is the OERC is so unforthcoming on this important matter is not known. Even contacted over the phone the designated authorities stayed away from any say on the matter.
