Power crisis in Bikramganj sub-division

Kumar Rajiv Nayan

Ara: Erratic power supply has made life miserable for the people of Bikramgaj sub-division of Rohtas district  for the last one week. This follows collapse of two poles of 132 KVAs near Dehari-on-Sone during a storm that lashed the district about a week ago. Power consumers on an average are getting power for one to two hours a day for the last one week during day hour but after sunset the entire sub-division area plungesness into dark.  Educational institutions, domestic consumers, commercial establishments and hospitals have been hit hard by the power crisis.

Due to power crisis, the entire market area becomes deserted early in the evening causining considerable loss to the businessmen. Tubewells and flour mills have become virtually defunct and many smallscale units are facing closure. This may render many workers jobless. The power crisis has adversely affected the agriculture work in the district and farmers are forced to operate their machines with the help of generator sets but they find it difficult to obtain diesel on time.

The power crisis also leads to drinking water crisis. The district is already facing acute water shortage due to low water level.  Vikas Kumar Singh of Dharupur village said the villagers were spending sleepless nights due to power crisis that hampers their work during day hours. Raju Prasad of Natwar blamed the officials of the South Bihar Power Distribution Company Limited (SBPDCL) for the power and water crisis in the area.

Assistant Engineer, SBPDCL, Brajesh Kumar said two 132 KVA towers had fell on the ground in a storm last week creating  power crisis in the area. He said that work to rectify the problem and install the tower afresh was going on but it could take at least one week more.