Rashmi Ranjan

Odisha Chief Secretary Suresh Mohapatra recently directed authorities to ensure power supply to all urban and rural areas in view of the board examinations of students and the prevailing severe heatwave conditions in the State. Despite Mohapatra's direction, the frequent and unscheduled power cuts have only added to the woes of the people across the State. 

Besides, the State Energy department secretary Nikunj Bihari Dhal recently claimed that there will be no power crisis in the State from May first. But the picture at Biramitrapur in Sundargarh district tells a different story altogether.

Even though the mercury has plummeted due to the rain triggered by the nor’wester, the unscheduled power cuts have come as a double whammy for the residents of Biramitrapur.

The scenes at Lamtaput in Koraput district is not better either where power cuts seem to have become a new normal. Moreover, the problem is intense in coastal district Bhadrak. The people in the district have hit the street and gheraoed electricity office protesting power cuts in the area.

Expressing his displeasure, Aadarsh Agarwal, a student in Biramitrapur area said, “We are facing a lot of issues in our studies due to frequent power cuts. We will not score good marks in the exams, if this continues.”

“As compared to last year, the power cuts have increased this year. We are facing many problems due to the power crisis,” said Ram Pangi, a resident of Lamtaput.

“We had submitted a memorandum regarding frequent and unscheduled power cuts in Bhadrak. But, all our pleas fall to deaf ears,” rued Sabir Khan, a protestor in the district.

Similarly, the acute power crisis in Koraput district has left patients and attendants at Saheed Laxman Naik Medical College Hospital in lurch. The hospital which caters heath services to people of nearby four district is reportedly also cries for uninterrupted power supply.

“The frequent power cuts at the hospital has doubled our trouble. We have to live without electricity for hours,” alleged a patient.

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