Power department staff in Jalukie appeal for a new office building amid safety concerns and crumbling infrastructure.
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KOHIMA — Staff at the Electrical Sub Division office in Jalukie continue to work out of a decades-old dilapidated structure, fearing that the building may collapse at any moment. Their appeals to the government for a new office have so far gone unanswered.
According to a source, the office is housed in an old Assam-type structure made of bamboo with cement plaster. The ceiling is lined with gunny bag material, parts of which are falling off.
The building has only four rooms but accommodates around 15 office staff and 35 other grade employees, leading to congestion, especially when meter readers and bill assistants report in. Due to a lack of basic furniture such as tables and chairs, some staff reportedly have to work from home.
During windy or stormy weather, the building shakes and the staff fear that it could collapse at any time.
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Recently, a portion of the roof was blown away, damaging the consumer ledger and party book that had been left on a table. Attempts to repair the roof have been futile as the wooden structures have been eaten away by insects, leaving no firm surface to nail down roofing materials.
A wall on one side of the building has collapsed and is now covered with an almirah. The doors, too, are rusted and damaged.
They claimed that several appeals have been made to the authorities concerned over the years. On multiple occasions, different contractors have inspected the building and taken measurements, but the response has always been the same—that either the project has not been approved or funds have not been sanctioned.
While the office has started using computers for billing, staff worry that the equipment will be destroyed if the building or roof collapses during rain. Also, there are no backup facilities, so consumers are unable to pay their bills during power cuts.
Stating that they have raised this issue with the authorities but received no response yet, the staff have once again appealed to the government to provide a proper building to work from.
It may be noted that Nagaland recorded the highest percentage of revenue collection in the power sector in the last two years.