Smooth power supply demanded

Statesman News Service

MALDA, Jan. 9: Having failed to make up for the losses in industrial units due to rampant power cuts at the Narayanpur industrial growth centre, the Malda small-scale industrialists have demanded that the industrial zone should be made ‘load shedding free'. The small-scale industrialists yesterday held a meeting with the district magistrate and the senior officials of the electricity department, pointing out the problem of rampant load shedding. The local entrepreneurs informed the officials that they had been suffering from losses after having shut down their running units due to frequent power cuts. They would be forced to claim compensation from the electricity department if they fail to provide them with uninterrupted power supply. The officials of the electricity department argued that a month ago the Narayanpur industrial belt came under the ‘load shedding-free’ zone. It was practically found out that a few big industrial units at the Narayanpur industrial growth centre under WBIIDC (West Bengal Industrial Infrastructure Development Corporation) had a direct power distribution line for uninterrupted power supply. But other small-scale industrial units did not come under such facilities. The district magistrate Mr. C R Das finally suggested the small-scale industrialists to keep in touch with the officials of the electricity department so that they come under the ‘ load shedding free’ zone to run their units profitably. Admitting the problem of the small scale industrialists at the industrial growth centre, Mr CR Das said: “The electricity department has selected an area as ‘load shedding-free,’ but some others small units have been left out of the zone. I have requested both the electricity officials and the industrial units to sort out the problem soon.” The secretary of Malda WBIIDC Welfare Association, Mr Debayan Ray, yesterday lodged a third complaint with the district magistrate through the manager of District Industrial Centre (DIC). "We had submitted such complaint letters twice a few months ago and both the district magistrate and the divisional manager of the electricity department assured us that within seven days the industrial zone would come under ‘load shedding-free’ area," Mr Ray said. “We have informed the district magistrate that we would claim compensation for industrial losses, if the department does not restore the situation”, Mr Ray added. The divisional manager, Mr AK Ghosh said: “Some important places, including the industrial zone, rail station and other places have been selected for uninterrupted power supply.” It may be noted that only the Malda book fair in English Bazaar town has come under the load shedding-free zone from yesterday after its inauguration, while the entire town was plunged into darkness during late evening. The Malda Merchants’ Chamber of Commerce today submitted a representation to the top officials of the electricity department and threatened to launch a movement against power cut from 17 January, if the power supply situation does not improve. A copy of the above mentioned letter has also been forward to the Malda district magistrate.