Unscheduled Power Cuts During Heatwave: Consumers in Distress
Nimapada: Although the government has announced that there will be no power cuts during the summer heatwave, hundreds of electricity consumers in the Kakatpur area of Puri district have alleged that the local electricity department is not adhering to this directive. Since April 3, during the period of intense heatwaves, the Kakatpur electricity division has reportedly been resorting to arbitrary and unscheduled power cuts, leaving the public to suffer in extreme discomfort. As a result, widespread dissatisfaction has arisen among the people.
Despite the state having adequate electricity supply, and the Energy Minister publicly assuring citizens through various media outlets that there would be no power cuts during the summer, the ground reality in Kakatpur paints a different picture. For the past two days, people have been struggling with unbearable heat and suffocating humidity. However, instead of relief, the Kakatpur sub-division’s random power outages have disrupted daily life.
Since Tata Power took charge of electricity operations in the region, consumers have been burdened with inflated bills. At the same time, residents continue to face persistent low voltage problems, with no effective solution in sight. Even though the Kakatpur sub-division claims to offer a toll-free number for consumers to register complaints, no officials reportedly respond to calls made to the number.
It has also been alleged that junior to assistant engineers are rarely found in their offices, while lower-level staff reportedly intimidate consumers by threatening them with fines. This has led to growing resentment in the community.
Local residents are now demanding immediate intervention from the State Energy Minister, the local MLA, the Puri District Collector, and senior engineers of the electricity department. They urge authorities to take prompt and appropriate action to resolve the ongoing issues.
