Even though much have been claimed by the power distribution companies functioning in Assam including the Assam Power Distribution Company Ltd (APDCL) regarding modernisation of the power distribution system with the application of new technology, the Mangaldai Sub-Division of the company seems to be still relying on the age-old technology which takes too long time for repair of a power sub-station with lower capacity resulting in power cuts for long hours affecting the normal life.
This could be apprehended from the incident when the Mangaldai Sub-Division office of the power distribution company on Saturday stopped power supply in Mangaldai town for more than nine hours at a stretch.
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The power consumers of the town came to know from a public announcement made by the APDCL authority through the Fix Loud Speakers (FLS) on Friday that due to repair works of power sub-stations and power lines, power supply would be stopped on Saturday and Sunday from 7 am to 3 pm.
Thus power supply was totally withheld in the town since morning and continued beyond one hour of the last stipulated time as in many parts of the town including the busy ward no-1 area, power supply could be restored only after the intervention of the Assistant General Manager (AGM) of the company.
Due to this long schedule of load-shedding, the normal life of the public was hit as the public announcement could not reach each and every corner of the town for non-functioning of several FLS.
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Meanwhile, talking to this correspondent over the telephone, Pranjal Kataki, the new AGM of APDCL, Mangaldai Division, informed that ahead of the rainy season, there is the need of repair of the power sub-stations and the power lines especially the ‘Gangs’ so that locations of frequent faults in the power line during rains and thunders could be detected and restored.
However, Kataki admitted before this correspondent that the public has to face inconvenience if power supply is suspended for long eight/nine hours at a stretch and assured to look into the matter in future.