The power supply condition at Kailashahar in Tripura is in dismal condition due to the lackluster performance of the private power provider of a different State, SAI Computer.

It has inflicted serious discomfort on people amidst the ongoing hot and humid situation. Repeated complaints to the SAI Computer Authority failed to improve their services.

The poor service rendered by the SAI Computer came to the fore, once again, as the main market area of Kailashahar witnessed a power outage on Monday – at a time when Power Minister Ratan Lal Nath along with two other Ministers, MLAs and others were holding a crucial meeting with the SAI Computer officials.

People of Kailashahar were suffering from the time when the SAI Computer Company belonging to another State was entrusted with the responsibilities of power distribution, locals alleged.

“The SAI Computer is totally incapable of providing quality services as they are concerned with profit only and completely apathetic to customers’ grievances”, opined a retired Government employee who once staged a solo dharna in front of the SAI Computer after electric supply in his residence and in locality went off for long hours.

Today’s meeting, held at the Kailashahar Circuit House, saw Power Minister Ratan Lal Nath, along with Ministers Tinku Roy and Sudhangshu Das, MLAs Bhagaban Das and Birajit Sinha, Sabhadhipati of the Unakoti Zila Parishad Amalendu Das, and District Magistrate TK Chakma, engaging with four officials from SAI Computer, led by Deputy General Manager Harinder Sharma.

The meeting was held in the wake of a series of load shedding in different areas for hours – vast areas, including Srirampur, Chandipur, Halairpar, and neighboring villages under Minister Tinku Roy’s constituency, experienced a prolonged power outage from 5 pm on July 30 to 2 am on July 31. Even during the crucial meeting, load shedding was witnessed in the main market area at the heart of Kailashahar while many other places reported the same issue.

After the meeting, Ratan Lal Nath addressed the media, stating that SAI Computer officials assured them of improving the quality of services within a month.

However, a delegation from Kailashahar Unnyan Manch expressed skepticism regarding the promised improvements, citing previous unfulfilled assurances made by SAI Computer officials.

Sources claimed that Minister Tinku Roy is facing mounting pressure from people of his constituency who are regularly facing power cuts, and asserted that the contract with SAI Computer will be terminated if the power supply services are not significantly improved within a month.

One point is certain, the poor performance of the SAI Computer which even irked local BJP leaders, needs to be dealt with seriously – otherwise, the State Government will be blamed for allowing problems to persist.

Notably, the outside Company, SAI Computer bagged the contract after the BJP government came into power in 2018. Opposition Parties who opposed the idea of handing over the responsibility to private players, will not spare any chance to highlight the failure of SAI Computer and the Government’s inaction.

Locals are waiting for a definite step so that they can enjoy an uninterrupted power supply.