Local residents blocked roads in protest against power and water cuts in R.K. Ganj area of Betaga under Santir Bazar subdivision in the South Tripura District.
According to the aggrieved villagers, there has been no power in R.K. Ganj area for the last two days.
“Due to the lack of electricity in the scorching summer season, people ranging from children to the elderly are falling sick”, said the villagers.
They also said, “Due to the lack of electricity, the people of the area are not able to collect water properly which further compounded our plights”.
Notably, people’s resentment over fragile power supply system is nothing new. Across the State, people of different places are holding agitation against the power supply.
“The power supply situation in district and sub divisional headquarters are in shambles. In the villages, it’s in pathetic condition. Despite repeated protests and agitation, supply remains unstable”, people of Santirbazar alleged.
When contacted, Power department officials cite several reasons ranging acute shortage of manpower to lack of vehicles for repairing faulty lines.
“Every year, power supply system often break down during the monsoon season. If pre-monsoon power supply condition is any indication, this year people will have endure more trouble during rainy days owing power supply disruption”, agitating villagers alleged. They also vented anger against the Power Minister Ratan Lal Nath.
Disruption in power supply affects water supply leading to added woes.
“Over the years, power supply system is deteriorating. We urged authorities for improvement but in vain. So, we have resorted to road blockade”, a group of women blocking the road said.
(Tripura, Tripura News)