The Hindu : Karnataka News : Residents protest against erratic power supply

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Oct 26, 2007
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Karnataka

Karnataka

Residents protest against erratic power supply

Special Correspondent

SORAB: Residents of Sorab laid siege to the office of the Mangalore Electricity Supply Company (MESCOM) here on Wednesday, protesting against erratic power supply and voltage fluctuation in the town for the past two months.

They said that the officials concerned had not attended to the problem despite repeated complaints. The problem had become acute in the past four days, and it had forced them to resort to a protest.

The residents complained that their TV sets, computers and other electronic equipment had been damaged on account of frequent fluctuations.

Water supply hit

Water supply in the town had also been affected because of erratic power supply. They said that they would intensify their protest if the authorities did not take action.

Assistant executive engineer Mohammad Mujib said that power supply had been affected as the 220 kV high-tension line originating from the Sharavathy power station snapped and fell on the 22 kV line. He said that power supply would be restored soon.

A member of the Shikaripur Taluk Panchayat, Rudrappa, said that people living in the extension areas of several villages, including Hirekalavatti, Kanivemane and Amatekoppa, had been denied power supply.

At a meeting of the taluk panchayat, MESCOM did not consider requests from people of those areas for power supply, he said.

Tenders

However, MESCOM officials said that tenders for power supply to extension areas under the Rajiv Gandhi Rural Electrification Programme were being processed and work would begin once they were finalised.

The villagers also requested officials of the Department of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Services to suggest treatment for a mysterious disease affecting livestock in some parts of the taluk.

A villager pointed out that work on construction of anganwadi kendras undertaken by the panchayat had been delayed and wanted action to be taken against the contractor concerned.

President of the taluk panchayat K. Revanappa presided over the meeting.

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