Dimapur, August 4 (EMN): The Nagaland Public Rights Awareness and Action Forum (NPRAAF) has suggested the department of Power with four strategies to combat the “urgent power crisis” in Nagaland.
In a representation addressed to the ‘engineer-in-chief’ of the department of Power, Nagaland, the NPRAAF minced no words while stating that said department has turned into “a business house for selfish contractors and suppliers, and some of the serving engineers of the department”. The representation was made available to the press on Friday.
Its suggested strategies include conduct of monthly review meetings of all contractors with the department concerned. “The engineers should be present to explain the status of the ongoing projects and expected time of work completion as well. “The contractors should be pulled up in the event of incompetent work or non-execution of works. This exercise will compel the contractors and department officials to be more transparent, in the meantime quality works can be visible to monitor the works progress”.
Secondly, it suggested that that contract firms registered under the name of ‘serving engineers’ should not the awarded contract works by the department “and disciplinary action should be initiated against those unethical engineers”.
Also, it asked the department concerned to ‘put up a proposal’ to the government of India ‘without waste of time’ seeking higher KV voltage electric power transmission line with high tower, ‘power station besides many more sub-stations under IPDS scheme or with NEC for the state of Nagaland so as to have uninterrupted power supply at all times’.
The NPRAAF asked the department to ‘meticulously monitor’ the construction firm by the name of Mohan Singh and Sons while claiming that the firm has a ‘questionable reputation’. “NPRAAF will not hesitate to take up the matter if the said firm cause loss to state”, it stated.
Pointing out that the power line between Dimapur and Kohima was “planted” in 1960, it stated that in case of breakdown to said power line, much hardship and embarrassment would be caused. “The department is requested to put up a proposal of availing at least 220 KV or more high power electric transmission line with high tower to cater to the needs on top priority”.
The monthly review meetings, it stated, should not merely be a ‘party of tea snacks’ but seriously discuss and analyse the power crisis and its infrastructural development.
