Bhubaneswar: While the city continues its battle against the Covid-19 pandemic, disruption in power supply at containment zones and other prominent areas here have added to the woes of the locals.
The locals claimed that the authorities concerned have failed to ensure uninterrupted power supply despite repeated pleas in this regard.
Ganpati Nagar slum area at IRC Village in the city here was declared a containment zone July 21 in the wake of detection of several Covid-19 positive cases. However, the locality was facing frequent power cuts since last week, sources said.
“The people of Ganpati Nagar slum have been facing severe power crisis for the last four days. We have contacted the authorities of Nayapalli electricity sub-station but to no avail. Even, the BMC helpline no. 1929 did not help the locals to get their problems solved. Officials claimed that they cannot look into the power crisis due to the containment zone norms,” said human rights activist Biswapriya Kanungo.
Sources, meanwhile, claimed that the Tata Power Central Odisha Distribution Limited (TPCODL) in coordination with the Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) has started work to restore power supply in the Ganpati Nagar slum area.
Similarly, disruption in power supply has caused problems for the artisans and traders of Ekamra Haat in the city here. The traders alleged that they have been facing disruption in power and water supply since July 31. “We have been forced to depend on lamps and candles at night,” they said.
Ekamra Haat Artisans’ Association secretary Chintamani Biswal said that artisans from various states have been stranded at the locality due to the Covid-19 restrictions.
“Disruption in power and water supply has added to their sufferings,” he added.
Sources, meanwhile, claimed that renovation work at Ekamra Haat has been causing disruption in the power supply.