Frequent power cuts: Dept transfers regional manager

MP | Kolkata: Regional manager of West Bengal State Electricity Distribution Company Limited (WBSEDCL) in Jalpaiguri has been transferred while a divisional manager and an assistant engineer (technical) of Malbazar have been suspended following the repeated incidents of power cuts during Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's tour in the district.

A senior official in the rank of a chief engineer will soon visit Jalpaiguri to carry out a detailed probe into the incident.

The official, after his return to the city, will submit the report to the West Bengal

State Electricity Distribution Company Limited (WBSDECL) Chairman giving the details on why load shedding occurred in Jalpaiguri when Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee was there.

The state Power department will take action against those who will be found guilty after the investigation is over. It may be mentioned here that load shedding took place several times at a tourist complex in Dooars on Tuesday where the Chief Minister had been staying.

She expressed her unhappiness over the repeated power cuts. She also pulled up the officials of the power department during an administrative meeting.

Banerjee also sought a report from the Power department regarding the same. It may be mentioned here that Banerjee came to Lataguri's Tilabari in Jalpaiguri after attending a rally in Cooch Behar on October 30. It was learnt that load shedding occurred four times during the night when Chief Minister had been staying there.

During an administrative meeting the next day, she reprimanded the Power department officials for this incident.

If load shedding happens in the district when the Chief Minister is touring, what would be the fate of the people in the district, Banerjee asked. She also maintained that there may be some negligence on the part of the officials or there may be excessive indulgence in unionism. She would not allow any kind of unionism, Banerjee added and warned the Power department officials of serious consequences.

State PWD minister Aroop Biswas also had a similar experience in Kalimpong. The state Power department acted promptly and suspended two officials while the regional manager had been transferred.

A senior official of the state Power department said that two officials have been suspended after negligence was found on their part. The regional manager of Jalpaiguri has been transferred following the incident.

A senior officer is going to the district who will submit a report to the WBSEDCL Chairman on the basis of his probe.

Stringent action will be taken against those who will be held responsible, the official added.