HT Correspondent
NAGAON, Sept 3: Amidst the state government’s promise of 24×7 power supply, Nagaon town has been grappling with acute power shortages and frequent load shedding for over a fortnight. Frustrated by the sweltering heat and extended power cuts, a furious crowd of local residents went on a rampage last night, surrounding the Haibargaon power substation for several hours.
During the protest, the enraged mob chanted slogans against the officials of Nagaon APDCL (Assam Power Distribution Company Limited) and the newly appointed chief executive officer of Nagaon APDCL.
The angry demonstrators accused the on-duty substation official of neglecting his responsibilities. They alleged that he frequently disrupted power supply for extended periods while inebriated and often failed to restore power to the affected areas promptly, causing panic among the local residents.
Some members of the mob claimed that attempts to contact the newly appointed CEO of Nagaon APDCL to file complaints had been met with indifference, alleging that the CEO consistently evaded their concerns.
Local Haibargaon police responded swiftly to the scene, managing to defuse the situation by engaging with the irate mob.
In response to the situation, the newly appointed CEO of Nagaon APDCL, Pranjal Katoky, explained that the demand for power supply had been steadily increasing. However, he pointed out that the government and relevant departments were struggling to generate the required power in the state. Additionally, he noted that the power production unit in Bongaigaon district was temporarily inactive, further affecting power production and supply in the state.
Furthermore, Katoky mentioned that the government and the relevant authorities were currently unable to purchase power from external sources to maintain a 24×7 power supply for subscribers.
