Berhampur: Traffic between Berhampur and Paralakhemundi was disrupted on Monday as different organizations observed 12-hour Chandragiri bandh in Gajapati district, about 75 km from here, protesting against the unscheduled and frequent power cuts and low voltage in the area.
Members of different business organizations, youth associations and several villagers staged road blockade at Chandragiri. The traders also downed the shutters of their shops. "We are facing prolonged power cuts and when there is power, the voltage is low," alleged president of Banika Sangha J R Patnaik. "We have apprised the district collector and Southco officials about our problems several times, but in vain," said vice-president of the youth association Manoj Kumar Dalapti.
Chandragiri is famous for its picturesque beauty and settlement of Tibetan refugees. Tourists throng the place almost every day. They also suffer due to power cut and low voltage, the agitators alleged.
Adequate number of police personnel were deployed at Chandragiri due to the dawn-to-dusk bandh. No untoward incident was reported, said IIC of Mohana police station Prasant Bhupati.
Executive engineer, Southco (Paralakhemundi) Narayan Nayak said power supply is erratic in the area due to the recent hailstorm. The problem would be solved because the company will set up a 2X5 MV transmitter at Chandragiri at a cost of around Rs10 crore.
"We have identified the location. Soil testing will be done this week," he said. "Installation of new transformer is likely to be done in a month," he added.
A similar transformer would also be installed at Luhagudi near Chandragiri. Problems of disruption in power supply and low voltage would be solved after installation of new transformers, he said. At present, power is being supplied to Chandragiri and 200 other villages from Chelligada power sub-station, he added.
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