Port Blair, Oct 22: With prolonged power outages continuing to disrupt life across the Islands, Member of Parliament Bishnu Pada Ray today visited the Chatham Power House to oversee the installation and commissioning work of the 10 MW Diesel Generator (DG) sets, a project expected to provide much-needed relief to the people of South Andaman.
The upcoming DG sets at Chatham are expected to significantly augment the power generation capacity of South Andaman and reduce dependency on smaller, aging units. Officials assured the MP that work is progressing at a steady pace and that all efforts are being made to adhere to the commissioning deadline.
During his visit, the MP interacted with the Superintending Engineer (SE), Executive Engineer (EE), and representatives of the Electricity Department, along with the contractor and other associated agencies. He urged all stakeholders to expedite the installation and commissioning process and meet the target date of November 27, 2025, to restore 24×7 power supply and bring normalcy back to the Islands.
“The people have shown immense patience despite facing genuine constraints in power supply over the past three months. Thanks to the Chief Secretary and his team for their prompt response and commitment to finding a long-term solution,” Ray said, expressing confidence in the administration’s coordinated efforts.
Residents, however, remain anxious but hopeful. “Frequent power cuts have made daily life miserable — from schoolchildren struggling to study to shopkeepers losing business,” said a resident of Haddo. Another local, from Junglighat, added, “If these new generators come online as promised, it’ll be a huge relief for everyone.”
