Failure of the Power Minister: Letters to The EDITOR

Failure of the Power Minister

All of you know that at present life is possible without electricity. I permanently live at Garugaon, Bongaigaon district. We have been in darkness since February, 2019 because our transformer has been damaged. We informed our power office located at Abhayapuri that we need a new transformer for the replacement of damaged transformer. We wrote a letter to the Chief Engineer of the power office and also to the SDO of Abhayapuri. They said that a few customers are have not paid their last month's Bill, so they cannot help us until we clear the bills. Then we returned and put pressure on the people to clear their dues. After a few days they paid their bills to the office with fine. And we were hoping that the connection will be given back to us shortly, but it did not happen as we thought. A few days later, we approached the office again. They asked us to wait and assured that they will provide us a new transformer very shortly. But that has not happened. Again and again we are approaching the APDCL office at Abhayapuri. Still we are in darkness.

It is very sad that both the Education Minister and Power Minister know that some candidates appearing for the HSLC and HS examinations. They are facing problems in preparing for their examinations. Personally, I am surprised at the apathy of the department towards students.

We are disappointed with the present BJP-led government in the State. They are often saying that their government is for the Jana Gan, but in reality, nothing turned out as they proclaimed. We are looking for the kind attention from Topon Kumar Gogoi, Power Minister of Assam, to make him know that common people in this village have been staying in darkness since February. Hope the Power Minister Gogoi will do something for us (Garugaon under APDCL, Abhayapuri, Bongaigaon district). We are waiting for his response.

Amarjyoti Barman,

M.Ed trainee under Government CTE, Kokrajhar.

Gauhati High Court's directives on bandh

Amidst the gloomy scenario that is prevailing in Assam, good news is coming to the fore flickering. A report published in the front page of your esteemed daily under the caption – Bodies calling bandh to cough up loss – at least gives us the good news. The Gauhati High Court, this time, as usual comes to the rescue of the common people. The High Court sends directives to the Assam Police to take prompt action against organizations that call bandh. Similar directives have also been sent to the Government of Assam asking it to constitute bandh loss compensation fund (BLCF). At a time when certain organizations are running a parallel government by calling frequent bandhs taking all people for a ride, a stern action from the government will serve as an entity of the government. The fund, it is reported, has to be constituted within three months. Further the report suggests that the directives also clarify that the road blockades and the rail blockades will also be construed as bandhs. The High Court also asked the police that the First Information Reports on bandhs should be lodged by the Commissioner of Police, Guwahati or any of his subordinate officers within 24 hours of such bandhs/blockades. We believe, once these directives of the Guwahati High Court are executed in letter and spirit, taking stern action against the bandh organizers, there is every possibility of the bandh to come to a bandh (end) once for all. There is every reason also for common people to heave a sigh of relief.

Ashok Bordoloi,

Dibrugarh.