CM powerless on power cuts

Statesman News Service

MALDA/KOLKATA, 11 APRIL:  Mr Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee today virtually admitted his helplessness in resolving the power crisis currently facing the state, saying people will have to face daily power cuts for some more time.

The power shortfall across the state today was around 400 MW, which resulted in prolonged power cuts throughout the day in most of the districts and in Kolkata, ranging from one and a half to two hours at a time. The weather remained hot and uncomfortable, added to people's distress. Although the maximum temperature today came down to 38.9 degree Celsius from 40.1 degree Celsius that was recorded yesterday, the maximum relative humidity remained as high as 96 per cent.

Speaking at a function at Hapania in Habibpur block of Malda district, Mr Bhattacharjee said: “Loadshedding would continue for a few days more. Units in Bakreshwar and Kolaghat have failed to generate power. At present, the shortfall of power in Kolaghat unit is 200 to 600 mega watts. It would take time to overcome the problem”.

He was responding to questions raised in this regard by North Malda MP, Mrs Mausam Noor at the inauguration function of the new Industrial Training Institute at Hapania. Mrs Noor had brought up the three urgent issues of local drinking water crisis; frequent power cuts and the need for preventive measures for flood protection in her address at the gathering.

While Mrs Noor urged the chief 

minister to allow Central agencies to take up flood protection work in the areas under Mahananda embankment division in north Malda, Mr Bhattacharjee said that he would discuss the matter later. 

The chief minister also pointed out that he held a meeting with the Malda district administrative officials yesterday and reviewed all programmes including the drinking water crisis in the district due to the prevailing dry spell. “I have instructed the concerned officials to sort out the problem of drinking water by repairing and re-sinking tube wells”, he said. “Due to scarcity of rain production of mango has been hampered in this district”, he acknowledged.

Mr Chakradhar Maikap, technical education and training minister, said: “The state government has sanctioned one more polytechnic and ITI in Malda. Though we are facing land problems in setting up institutes here, hopefully we will be able to start construction after Durga Puja. Besides, 16 polytechnics and more than 30 ITIs will be set up across the state in this financial year.”

“We have approached the electricity department for placement of at least 250 electricians each year from ITIs in north Bengal”, Mr Maikaf said.