Brahmabarada: With summer at its worst and temperatures recording above 40 degree Celsius in most parts of the state, unscheduled power cuts have added to the misery of people in the Brahmabarada area under Rasulpur block in Jajpur district. Frequent power cuts and low voltage have made life miserable for the residents despite the state government’s tall claims of having adequate power to meet the demand in peak hours.
However, in sharp contrast to this claim, people in the Brahmabarada area under the Kuakhia electric sub-division of Rasulpur block are reeling under undeclared power cuts for around five to 10 times a day as a newly built electric structure in the area is yet to become operational. The area has around 12,000 to 15,000 consumers and they depend on Sujanpur electric structure which is around 15 km from the place. The power supply comes to a grinding halt in the area when there is slight rain or heavy wind, not to speak of a thunderstorm or torrential rainfall. This has flared up protests as anger has been brewing among the local residents. The population in the area is rising day by day due to its proximity to National Highway-16.
Evidently, the number of power consumers is also increasing. Power officials said that power cuts are occurring in the area due to overloading but residents are not ready to listen to anything. They have demanded the power officials and the local political representatives intervene and make the electric structure operational as soon as possible. They have warned of agitation if their pleas are left unaddressed. Sources said people in the Brahmabarada area had demanded the establishment of the electric structure in view of the rising population in the area. A delegation of the residents had met the then Bari MLA Debashis Nayak and pressed him for the establishment of an electric structure. Their demands were accepted following which Nayak laid the foundation stone for the electric structure near Brahmabarada College in Brahmabarada panchayat in 2018.
Meanwhile, the construction of the electric structure has been completed since a year back while final checking has also been completed. However, unfortunately, it is yet to become operational. The annoying power problem has slightly been resolved after Tata Power took over the power distribution charge in the state but there is no end to the suffering of people with undeclared power cuts getting frequent in the area with each passing day. People alleged that they have been facing undeclared power cuts at least five to 10 times a day while low voltage problem is adding to their woes. Efforts to get the response of the power officials failed to yield any results.