Electrocution deaths: Call for Power Minister's sacking

BY OUR STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI, Aug 3:  With the death of around 50 people across the State due to electrocution, the clamor for State Power Minister Pallab Lochan’s ouster is growing in the State.  

The Assam state committee of CPI (M) on Thursday took to the street demanding resigtion of Power Minister Das for his alleged failure to run the power department properly.   

The CPI (M) protested for an hour in front of the headquarters of Assam Power Distribution Corporation Limited (APDCL) at Bijulee Bhawan here putting forward a catalogue of demands that includes adequate power supply across the State, to provide fincial aid to the families of those who died of electrocution.

In addition, the party demanded stringent punishment of the APDCL officials responsible for such deaths.

CMI (M) president Daben Bhattacharjee said that the State Power department has failed to provide round the clock power supply and owing to which people have been bearing the brunt in this extreme hot and humid weather.  

“People of Majuli are suffering as there has been no power supply for the last four days.  Moreover, death across the State due to electrocution has been on the rise. We demand that these grievances are readdressed,” Bhattacharjee added.  He alleged that the minister concerned had cut a sorry figure of himself for not taking any robust steps to address these problems.  The CPI (M) also put pressure on the department officials to accept the memorandum including these demands, which the party wanted to put forward before the Chief Minister through the APDCL.