Sunday, March 18, 2012

COVER STORY: C-Company: Silent Killer on Prowl

THE LIGHT OF ANDAMANS | VOL 35 | ISSUE 29 | 16 MARCH 2012

COVER STORY:

C-Company: 
Silent Killer on Prowl

Thousands of youngsters and teenagers have fallen to the addiction of Opium derivative - Codeine Phosphate based cough syrups which are eating into the vitals of the society. Its high time the Administration wakes up and takes serious note of the magnitude of the issue.

By Zubair Ahmed

 The C-Companies (Corex-addicts) are the new groups of teenagers and children, roaming around us everywhere, addicted to cough syrups, a new fad catching up very fast. The society as well as the administration is caught totally unaware about the magnitude of the problem and the dangers lying ahead.
They brush the catastrophe under the carpet. The Directorate of Halth Services has never undertaken any comprehensive survey to deal with it. 70 to 80 percent of the addicts identified use easily available prescription drugs and substances like alcohol based cough syrup, painkillers and eraser fluid.
Medicinal opiates like Codeine, Corex and Rexcof and prescription drugs like Alprax and Spasmo Proxyvon are available across the counter in medical shops that have mushroomed over 10-15 years. Despite being banned elsewhere in the country, variants of these drugs are sold in "huge quantities" in our Islands.
A large number of teens including small kids are today addicted to codeine based cough suppressants and many deaths on this account have been reported.
Shafiq (name changed), the only son of a lower middle class family after graduation struggled hard to land up a job. Finally after sacrifices from his family with meagre resources, he landed a job with Municipal Council. His father stood by him and sold off his ancestral land to get his son a job.
Shafiq who was quite happy with his job in the council fell into the trap of bad company. In the meantime, he got married and became the proud father of two little sons. However, he was not even five years into the job when he developed chest problems. His parents did not know what the matter was. His wife too was unaware of the illness or its cause. Shafiq did not have any visible vices. Nobody knew that Shafiq was addicted to cough syrups, and was taking about 3-4 bottles daily. He was admitted into the hospital where, after a few days, he breathed his last.
Rasheed (28) succumbed to this addiction a couple of years ago. Mohit another teenager lost his life. The dead body of another young addict was found lying near Tiranga Park a couple of years back. Once addict, it becomes very hard to get out of it. They are doomed for life. In any given village, one will find more than 20-25 kids who consume codeine phosphate based cough syrups to get high.
There are two types of people who consume cough syrups - One group who wants to get relief from their chronic bouts of cough. Another group won't cough in their lifetime as they consume the syrup daily. Unfortunately, the second group might not survive long. And there are two types of cough syrups available as over the counter drug - Codeine Phosphate based and non-codeine based.
Rexcof, Biorex, RC, Rancof, Corex, Phensedyl and Mit's Linctus Codeine are codeine based drugs, available in pharmacy shops. Legally, all these drugs can only be obtained by a physician's prescription, but everyone knows that more than 90% of the product is sold without any prescription.
High doses of codeine are just as dangerous as any illegal drug. In fact, many teens use it to mimic the euphoric and hallucinogenic effects of ecstasy. They try to have an almost psychedelic experience similar to designer drugs. It's out there everywhere and people don't realize what a powerful and dangerous drug it is when taken in high doses.
However, try to get a bottle of Rexcof from any pharmacy, they won't give you. Instead, ask for a "Bada wala" and wrapped in a paper, you will get a 100 ml bottle of Rexcof for Rs 70/-
I tried getting a bottle of Rexcof from a pharmacy shop in Junglighat. They did not give me. I sent one of my young friends to the same shop after a while and he brought a bottle wrapped in a paper.
About 15-20 thousand of bottles of cough syrup are sold every month in the Islands. No doctors in the Islands prescribe Rexcof. Except a couple of pharmacy shops in Port Blair and surrounding areas, everyone secretly stock large quantity of this particular cough syrup. LoA team visited about 15-20 hangouts around the city and the rural areas and was dumbfounded to find large quantity of empty bottles lying everywhere.  The first thought that struck us was do the entire cough patients gather at one point and take their medicine? Or is it part of mass drug administration? And why only bottles of Rexcof, when generally, the syrup popular was called Corex? The curiosity led us to a pharmacist.
A pharmacist, who is a distributor too, on anonymity told LoA that by selling Corex, a proprietary drug manufactured by Pfizer, pharmacy gets only 10-12% margin, in Phensedyl, the margin is between 15-18%. But, Rexcof, product of Cipla is a generic drug which gives a huge margin of about 35-40%. In simple terms, if you sell a bottle of Rexcof, you make a profit of about Rs 30. And, from our investigation, we could gather that every pharmacy except a few, sells about 100-150 bottles of Rexcof daily. And they make a cool net profit of about Rs 3000-4000 a day! Why should they sell anything else?
And the worst part of our investigation was that the tens of thousands of bottles consumed are not by patients, but young addicts, most of them school and college students. They roam around the city in cars or gather at the meeting points and have their dose of cough syrup.
Behind ITF Ground, near Khaitan Function Hall, Junglighat Colony, Behind Hotel Gagan, Aberdeen Bazar, Mohanpura, Foreshore Road, Mini Stadium, Dollygunj, abandoned govt quarters and small joints in almost all rural areas, small c-groups gather and consume the deadly cough syrup.
This addiction does not discriminate between rich or poor parents, or even upper, middle or lower class. The abuse is spreading its tentacles throughout the Islands. In rural areas, the drugs are stocked in pan shops and provision stores and in the city, its there in every pharmacy.
Its an expensive addiction and needs about Rs 70-150 daily and here comes the role of parents. "Parents are so careless and generous that they are pushing their own children into death traps," said the pharmacist.
"Reported cases may be sporadic," says another local pharmacist.
The abuse goes unreported as parents aren't as likely to recognize their teens' abuse of lawful drugs, as they are likely to spot the use of illicit drugs, like marijuana or liquor. In areas like Tusonabad, Ograbraj, Wimberly Gunj, Mannarghat etc; people, particularly young men and students take these cough syrup in a big way.
"There are no physical activities for small children nowadays and they are also not seen playing games anywhere," rues a concerned parent whose child is a victim of cough syrup. "I was not aware of my child's addiction, and I have myself bought him the syrup thinking he needs the medicine, but when I came to know of such a habit from others, I kept a tab on him. But I don't know how to save him."
The abuse is rampant in rural areas and in communities, where liquor consumption is a taboo. Due to the fear of being noticed using liquor and alcoholic drinks, teens have hit up on the idea of using legally available substitutes. All over the Islands, it is visible to naked eye that abuse is on the rise. Earlier, petty shops in our Islands use to stock major cough syrups, but, realizing the huge profit, pharmacies have taken a lead today. Ready availability of such drugs in nearby shops in rural areas tempts students to initially taste and later fall into the trap.
“Once trapped, there is no escape,” says Rahul, an addict. He needs about 2 bottles daily. His hands shiver and face perspires and only solution is daily dose of the syrup.
The lack of concern about the society and particularly the young generation is another reason for rise of such habits. "I know one teacher who used to sell cough syrups to students," said a student of a reputed school in Port Blair. "There are places in Port Blair, where they serve cough syrups for Rs 10/- per serving to students," he said.
There are many bizarre addictions too. A small layer of Iodex spread on bread is also tried by students. "All these experiments come from students who go for studies to mainland," said a shopkeeper, who is also a social activist. Apart from cough syrups, dilutor, which comes with a whitener brand Erazex manufactured by Kores is used for sniffing. It's very popular among students studying in Middle and Secondary classes.
Tablets like Spasmo Proxyvon, Alprax and Alprazolam were also in vogue till recently. 
Speaking to LoA, Dr S K Paul, Director, DHS said that he will keep a tab on the pharmacies and drug license holders. "However, without proper legal framework, it would be very difficult to control it," he said. Is it not the time responsible people, agencies, civil society and the administration sit up and devise ways and means to fight this plague, which is eating into the vitals of the society big time?


Codeine: The Opium Derivative

One of the constituents of these cough syrups is the habit forming drug Codeine Phosphate I.P. that falls under the narcotic drugs category, which belongs to the class of opium alkaloids and derivatives. Codeine provides relief by blocking the ascending pain pathways by binding to opiate receptors found in the CNS. It also helps suppress cough by direct action in the medulla
Individually it falls under the narcotics category but if manufactured with other ingredients as cough syrup it falls under the prescription drugs category. Though, these drugs are preparations of manufactured drugs, their possession, trade and consumption are subject to NDPS Rules. Violation of these rules would attract punishment under Section 21 of the Act.
The Codeine based drugs are so addictive that it forces dependence and withdrawal symptoms are also too dangerous. Nausea, vomiting, constipation; drowsiness, confusion; difficulty in micturition, ureteric or biliary spasms, urinary retention; dry mouth, dizziness, sweating, facial flushing, headache, vertigo, bradycardia, tachycardia, palpitations, orthostatic hypotension, hypothermia, restlessness, mood changes, decreased libido or potency, hallucination, miosis; raised intracranial pressure and muscle rigidity are the symptoms found in the addicts of cough syrups containing codeine.
Symptoms also include loss of balance, increased pulse, and hypothermia; severe high blood pressure, loss of consciousness, mania, loss of muscle control, coma, seizures, cerebral haemorrhages and stroke.
These drugs are potentially fatal too with respiratory depression and hypotension, with circulatory failure and even deepening coma.

Oblivious DHS

It's a serious issue, but we are not aware of its magnitude. We do not have a regular Drug Control Section and a proper setup. Three pharmacists are ex-officio notified as Drug Inspectors. We also do not have Drug Analyst or Public Analyst," said Dr Swapan Kumar Paul, Director, DHS, who is also the State Drug Controller.
When asked whether the Directorate have any information about the inflow and outflow of drugs which contain codeine phosphate, he said that he will try to find out and monitor the flow to ascertain the seriousness of the issue.
However one of the Drug Inspectors told LOA that they could not keep a watch on the flow of medicines because, apart from the distributors, others too bring the medicine in bulk quantity which goes unaccounted.
Dr Paul was keen to keep a tab on this issue and had summoned all drug license holders and asked them to submit stock status within a week.
Without proper regulations and a mechanism to check the inflow and outflow of such drugs, the Health Services too have miserably failed.
Moreover, medicines are outside the purview of Octroi, so its very easy to hoodwink the authorities and get whatever drugs they want to land with false invoices and documents.
'We will adopt a comprehensive approach to tackle this issue. We will involve health education division too to create awareness among school children," Dr Paul said.
It is notable that the Chandigarh Administration has banned Codeine based syrups; sale of Phensedyl and Corex in that UT.  Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Abuse Act 1985, is stringently enforced in the city.
Whoever the agency to curb this menace, it is high time the authorities wake up to the situation and monitor the sale and usage of such medicines. The availability of such drugs at street-corner shops and even pharmacies must be checked and drugstores should also insist on prescriptions to prevent the drugs possible abuse.

The Camaraderie

The c-company has no parallels in camaraderie. It's a classless group very generous and helpful to each other. You can find a B-Tech graduate C-addict helping his labourer friend in the field. You will always find them in small groups of 4-5 members sitting over a cup of tea for hours together fondling with their mobile phones. As it's a very expensive addiction, they need money for their daily quota, taken care of by friends on rotational basis. To sustain the kick, they rely on sweets and double-mitta chai. Its additional expense. More or less, each one of them need about Rs 150 a day, which they manage through friends or steal from their houses.  A door is always kept open to recruit new members to the group.
"Those addicted of cough syrups are very obsessive in their work. A sweeper will keep cleaning the floor again and again. A designer will remain unsatisfied with his designs and keep changing it. I have seen a boy cleaning a glass for about 3 hours. Another guy who works with a service centre gives your bike a brand-new look," said Raju, an ex-addict who still cannot have regular food due to burning sensation in stomach due to overdose of cough syrups.

The Politics of Power


THE LIGHT OF ANDAMANS | VOL 35 | ISSUE 29 | 16 MARCH 2012

The Politics of Power

Amidst this entire hullabaloo, the real victims are the poor Islanders, unaware of the power play at the higher levels. Somebody needs to play referee in this match between Admn and SPCL to put an end to the never-ending blame game.

By Zubair Ahmed

Everyone from those in the Administration to the common man on the streets today accepts the invariable fact that the Admn-run Shipping Services is in shambles and the only solution is to look outward and find private partners. The same perception is shared about the Electricity Department too. In 2003, Suryachakra Power Corporation Ltd (SPCL), the independent power producer started its operations in the Islands with its 4 (5 MW Diesels Gensets) totaling 20 MW.
The recent squirmish between SPCL and the Admn broke out after one DG set of SPCL broke down and another one was shut down for overhauling, creating acute shortage of power in South Andaman. There are many issues which have been kept away from the purview of common man. It was a political decision to have SPCL in Andamans. During the NDA regime, SPCL used all its influences to get the project through. In fact, the power situation improved and at the same time, the whole focus of the Administration in upgrading its own units took a backseat. Presently, the situation as a whole is in a precarious condition for comfort. The dependence on the private player is to the extent of 80% where they hold all the cards. There were no future projects to ameliorate the situation. A potentially dangerous situation had been predicted long back.
The Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) between the department and Suryachakra is alleged to be loaded in favour of the latter and it has been a constant source of irritation in the relation between the two. A detailed analysis of Power Purchase Agreement is long overdue. Since 2003, the Completion Cost has been a matter of dispute. Suryachakra had claimed an amount of Rs 85 crores as the completion cost whereas the Admn did not agree to it. The matter was referred to Central Electricity Authority (CEA). The dispute has been dragging for last ten years without any breakthrough. The cost of the plant was Rs 65 crores and the completion cost as claimed by SPCL was not acceptable to the Admn. SPCL had been claiming the difference amount of about Rs 20 crores.
Speaking to LoA, Jalaj Srivastav, Secretary, Power told that CEA had finally informed that the completion cost to be Rs 77 crores, a difference of about Rs 12 crores. However, another fax on 15 March 2012 received from CEA has perplexed the Administration, which has enhanced the Completion Cost to be about Rs 80 crores, an increase of another Rs 3 crores. The Admn, it seems to have its own doubts about the action of CEA. As usual in the press note, Secretary Power has stated that the Admn is examining the fax about completion cost fixed by the CEA and a decision would be taken thereon. In short the dispute will continue. However, SPCL officials claim that the amount of Rs 77 crore was decided by the Admn and not CEA. CEA has arrived at the figure of Rs 80 crores plus financial ties of another Rs 2 crores. They also feel that the Admn is still indulging in delaying tactics by not accepting the CEA's decision.
As per the PPA, the SPCL had to procure fuel and store it in its 2000 KL facility at the plant. The first violation happened with the onus of fuel supply shifted to the Department. However, Jalaj Srivastav justified it saying that the decision was not wrong as the govt  department has the advantage of buying fuel on subsidized rate. Moreover, he said that SPCL was not in a financial position to stock fuel for 20 days.
Another violation happened when the Admn 'assisted' the SPCL with Rs 2.5 crores and Rs 2.9 crores at two occasions. Why such a sympathetic approach which it says is against the PPA? Why such an approach is now denied? Is it with the change of officials at the helm? Reliable sources informed LoA that SPCL had approached the Lieutenant Governor for Rs 5 Crore loan, and he had instructed the Chief Secretary to provide the loan and the CS had assured SPCL that the amount will be cleared in a couple of days. However, at some level the issue took a u-turn and the loan was denied citing it as violation of PPA.
Jalaj Srivastav informed that the Admn took SPCL's case for loan to the ANIIDCO also but the Board of Directors after due diligence and enquiry from the banks, decided that the loan cannot be granted. However, it is learnt that ANIIDCO as a term lending institution does not extend short term loans. Moreover, SPCL was seeking working capital funding, for which they should have approached commercial banks. “ANIIDCO does not provide loans to the tune of Rs 5 crores,” said Mohammed Pervaiz, General Manager, ANIIDCO.
After setting up the IPP in Andamans, Surya Chakra Power Corporation launched IPO in 2007 which was rated average and its net profit declined 76.62% in the December 2011 quarter. The precarious financial situation of SPCL is blamed for denial of loans by commercial banks.
SPCL is also blaming that there is an average loss of about 10 KL of fuel during transportation, for which they suspect some foul play in connivance with IOC officials.
The total power requirement of South Andaman was about 22 MW as in December 2003. At present the demand is about 33 MW, an increase of about 10 MW from 2003. The total power generated by Chatham Power House and Phoenix Bay Power House is about 16 MW and the rest 20 MW is generated by IPP SPCL. Every year, in the last decade, the increase in power demand was about 1 MW i.e, about 10 MW in a decade. What was the Admn doing all these 10 years, and will do in the next 3 months?
When asked about the sluggish attitude of the Admn towards infrastructural requirements, Secretary Power agreed that the Admn has a very lazy mindset. He also blamed the Superintending Engineer (SE) for the precarious condition. He said that the Chief Secretary in his weekly Coordination meeting since July, 2011 has been instructing for hiring of containerized DG sets which can be deployed within very little time.  However, SE (Elec) had assured in December, 2011 setting March, 2012 as its deployment period.  He said that SE failed in procuring the gensets and that he has been sent on a long leave.
He also said that by the end of March, 2012, one M/s New Bharat will be able to deploy 5 MWs of additional power in Port Blair.  When asked about hiring gensets from private parties, he said that there is no other alternative. He said that the work culture and performance of the department is not satisfactory. He also accepted the fact that dept-run power plants have sub-optimal utilization. Out of six gensets only 5 are in working condition at Chatham Power House. One genset procured after tsunami was lying idle for a long period.
There is a proposal to hire three containerized DG Sets of total 15 MWs within three months.  Thus apart from the existing capacity, 5 MWs of M/S New Bharat and an additional 15 MWs  from the new hiring of containerized DG sets should provide a backup of power of 20 MWs , in other words, even if entire Surya Chakra Power Plant would need to be maintained, there would be 20 MWs additional back up capacity so that there is no disruption of power.
He conceded that the T&D loss is very high at about 19.4%. However, he said that it is far low than the national level. In comparison, Srivastav said that the T&D loss in Delhi was about 58% in 1992.
The Ping-Pong over power crisis is continuing with the ball in SPCL's court at present. SPCL sources informed that Vijay Kumar, Manager SPCL is coming to Port Blair on 19 March 2012 and another rejoinder is on the anvil. It is pertinent that amidst this entire hullabaloo, the real victims are the poor Islanders, unaware of the power play at the higher levels. Somebody needs to play referee in this match to put an end to the never-ending blame game.




EDITORIAL: Happy Vacation, Admn!


THE LIGHT OF ANDAMANS | VOL 35 | ISSUE 29 | 16 MARCH 2012

EDITORIAL:

Happy Vacation, Admn!

The Administration was virtually on vacation last week with the Lt. Governor, Chief Secretary, Secretary Shipping, Secretary Education, Secretary to LG and a horde of Directors, Special Secretaries and Supt Engineer (SE) either on leave or on vacation in the mainland. There was a time when only Jalaj Srivastav, CS-in-Charge and Secretary, Power was left to hold the system when the Administration was locking horns with Suryachakra Power Corporation Ltd (SPCL).
In an unprecedented move, the Lieutenant Governor took a huge coterie on a foreign trip to Germany. The team comprised of Secretary to LG, ADC, Director, Tourism and staffs of tourism and industries.
During the same period, South Andaman including Port Blair was reeling under prolonged load shedding and acute water shortage, and the press note warfare between Admn and SPCL had taken a very dirty turn with both parties indulging in mudslinging against each other.
Another move that took everyone by surprise was the austerity drive directed by the Administrator that all lights except bare minimum security lights should be de-energised in the compound of Raj Niwas. He also had directed the Admn to take similar steps in respect of all other official buildings. He wanted lights at public parks to be reduced by de-energising the alternate lights, and to curtail street lighting without compromising the overall safety of the public.
It is heartening that the Administrator from Germany felt the need to send a message to the Administration that the first step has to be taken by the head of the family. However, Raj Niwas has its own powerhouse and does not share power with the grid. The solidarity with the suffering subjects is indeed a positive step.
More heartening is the news that the Admn will have about 20 MW capacity of its own by July 2012. What we could not do in 10 years, we are capable of doing it in just 3 months. In firefighting mode, we leave no stone unturned, and that too when 85% of the Admn was on vacation.
In December 2011, the Chief Secretary in a conversation with college students had promised that the water crisis will be a matter of past in six months.  We have another couple of months to see the promise fulfilled.
When the Admn was on a vacation, citizens in South Andaman could not wait and openly came out on the streets peacefully protesting the power cuts during this month, when students are appearing for Board examinations. There were other protests and street meetings by Left and Right parties, whereas Congress was once again caught napping unaware of the burning issues of the general public.
Anyway, the Administrator too relies more on God for good governance rather than his Administration, let's also pray to Almighty to save the Islands from water crisis. Lets wish the Admn a Happy Vacation!

PAUPER’S LOG: Ladies First!


THE LIGHT OF ANDAMANS | VOL 35 | ISSUE 29 | 16 MARCH 2012

PAUPER’S LOG: 
Ladies First!

By Abu Arsh

We wake up once in a blue moon to debate how fair we are in granting equality to our women. There are discourses on the need for women's upliftment and empowerment from the clutches of society which is deeply entrenched in orthodox and traditional values bordering more on male supremacy. International women's day which falls on 8th March every year calls for celebrations from a wide variety of organisations. The women speakers in these seminars dwell on a varied issues ranging from Female infanticides and sex selective abortions to conquering the outer space.
This year saw a series of seminars organised to mark 'International women's day' in the islands. Issues cropping up this time though oft repeated do make us believe there is still a gender bias in the lives of women. Academically, wherever women have been given chance they have excelled and have surpassed their male counter parts. Communities where education for women was once considered a taboo have thrown up women who have excelled in their chosen field or vocation. It was heartening to listen to women speakers in these seminars talk about our President, Speaker of the Lok Sabha, Chairperson of UPA and Leader of the opposition in the Lok Sabha - all being women and doing a good job of it. There were references to great visionaries of the past who have worked for women empowerment. 
Major issues raised in these seminars were enhanced representation of women in planning and decision making bodies like the Island Development Authority, Home Minister's Advisory Council, Lieutenant Governor's Advisory Council and Local self Governance and civic bodies. The basis for this argument was largely based on the figures of total population of women viz a viz men in the Islands. Enhanced representation would mean better redressal and prioritization of women's issues. There were valid suggestions made by some about better and exclusive services for girls and women in public transport. This, apart from providing better security to women would also mean more comfort in travel for the ladies.
Speakers representing the plight of rural women expressed dissatisfaction with exploitation of women in these areas. Though the women folk contribute and labour more towards livelihood and household duties, their efforts are not given due appreciation. Women health and hygiene issues need attention in these areas. They are subject to domestic violence which does not have much of an urban- rural divide as it is prevalent everywhere. Major factor contributing to it is - Alcoholism of their men. As the environment around is ripe with easy availability of alcohol and other intoxicating substances, it leads to issues where women and her household is destroyed. With an alcohol addicted male in the house, entire responsibility of sustenance of herself and her kids fall on her and she has to face up to the society which is always on a look out for an easy prey to exploit. The strong willed and qualified women would excel in this situation would bail herself out of such mess and make a new beginning for her family but such cases are few and far between.
Though efforts of empowerment of women have been tried by governments in Panchayat Raj Institutions and other civic bodies, there are very few instances where women have stayed long at the helm of political affairs in the Islands. It was pointed out by the women activists that though we have produced women heads of these local self governance bodies very few were allowed to function independently. Many were a front for their more politically ambitious male spouses or fathers or brothers who would like them to be mere rubberstamps. These women are made to work towards furthering the cause of their promoters. This could be the reason that after a term, most of these women have disappeared into obscurity and back to their role as homemakers than leaders.  There was a strong opinion among the ladies that women should be allowed to function independently which would invariably have greater impact in the society and bring about real empowerment. This can be achieved by greater confidence and trust in women by their men.
It is undeniable that there are vocations which calls for dedication, devotion and care where women would surpass men any day. Professions like teachers, doctors, engineers, nurses, clerks, scientist, administrators and entrepreneurs are all where women have proved their mettle. Very soon it may not make much of a difference whether you have a boy or girl because education is the key to achieving real empowerment of women. On our part let's go by- Ladies first!

Washing Dirty Linen in Public


THE LIGHT OF ANDAMANS | VOL 35 | ISSUE 29 | 16 MARCH 2012

Washing Dirty Linen in Public

By Debkumar Bhadra

The examinations are on and unlike the past, power cut in the guise of rotational load shedding is back haunting us at a time when it hurts the most. It is no surprise that the DG sets generating electricity in these islands develops technical snag and goes out of service every year exactly when the examinations commence. This year too is no exception. The public is reeling in darkness whereas those hired for production of electricity in these islands (SCPL: Surya Chakra Power Corporation Ltd) and the distributor (Electricity Department, A&N Admn) are out in the open blaming each other for the crisis situation.
Let us first take at look at what has been put in the public domain through newspapers by both the parties during the last few days.
The Daily Telegrams carried a news item in its front page (March 13th) which reads “Due to forced outrage of two 5MW DG set of 20 MW IPP, SPCL the Electricity Department will exercise two hours load shedding. Next day The Daily Telegrams (March 14th) carried another newsreport saying “Eventhough the administration is paying operational and maintenance charges of around Rs 35-40 lakhs every month to M/s SCPL, they neglected to carry out timely overhauling and the current breakdown resulted”
Andaman Chronicle in its 15th March edition carried this news “Reacting over the press note issued by the Electricity Department, A&N Administration regarding breakdown of two 5 MV DG sets, the General Manager (Tech), M/s Suryachakra Power Corporation Ltd said the allegations of the electricity department is baseless. In fact it is the non-cooperation by the electricity department which has resulted in the situation. The report further adds “the situation of breakdown of one engine and forcible shutdown of other engine as a precautionary measure could have been avoided had the Electricity Department heeded to request for monetary help” sought by SCPL.
Another daily, The Echo of India in its Port Blair edition dated March 15th quoted the General Manager (Tech), M/s Suryachakra Power Corporation Ltd as saying the electricity department is withholding payment on tariff invoice since commissioning of SPCL in April 2003 ie the Electricity Department needs to pay SCPL an accumulated arrears amounting to Rs 50 Crores. Due to non-payment of such huge amounts, SCPL is facing financial constraints hence unable to take up timely overhaul of the engines.
Going through the above reportings it is aptly clear the crisis situation leading to power cut has crept in because of serious lapses on the part of both the parties. The electricity department talks about “forced outrage of 2 DG sets” whereas SCPL clarifies “breakdown of one engine and forcible shutdown of other engine as a precautionary measure”. Such conflicting and contradictory statement issued by each of the two parties speaks volumes about mismanagement; exposing the prevailing disconnect between Electricity Department and SCPL which is known to have entered into a mutually agreed Power Purchase Agreement (PPA).
M/S SCPL being the company manning the electricity generating facility at Bambooflat in South Andaman, one is inclined to believe their version which says only one DG set has suffered breakdown and the other one has been shutdown as a precautionary measure. Having said so, it is well within anybodys guess that the breakdown leading to power crisis is superficial if not stage managed.
Further when payments is made by Govt to a private party, safeguards to ensure proper utilization of funds is only a pre-requisite. The onus is therefore on the Electricity Department to see to it that the funds paid for maintenance of DG sets are spent on maintenance of the DG sets so that interest of the Govt is protected and the public gets the service for which such payments are made.
There is no point washing dirty linen in public since such an act is neither going to solve the power crisis nor absolve the department from their responsibilities. Such unprofessional tactics indeed cast serious doubts on the functioning capabilities of the concerned authorities. If there is any lapse, appropriate provisions contained in the extant Power Purchase Agreement signed by both the parties could be invoked to set right the wrongs.
It is true commissioning of SPCL at Bambooflat has brought a sea change improving electric power availability compared to the pre SPCL era. Also M/S SPCL did a remarkable job restoring power supply within a short period of time after the 26 December 2004 Great Sumatra-Andaman Earthquake triggered tsunami devastated the powerhouse. But non-maintenance of DG sets leading to breakdown and load shedding especially at the time of board examinations every year is denting the image of the power generating company besides projecting the Electricity Department in poor light among the masses.
Ironically, this is not the only issue or instance when the hapless islanders have been taken for a ride. Apart from load shedding during board examinations, it is seen one or the other ship plying between mainland and island is sent for APS during summer vacation causing innumerable hardships for those willing to visit mainland. Further, tasks relating to augmentation of water supply such as raising the level of Dhanikhari dam, Rutland water project, Dilthaman tank and numerous other projects gain attention only after the onset of summer. Why is it so?
Why can’t the scheduled maintenance of DG sets be completed well before commencement of examinations? Why can’t the mainland bound ships be sent for APS sometime other than during school vacation? Why can’t the steps required to augment water supply be given the necessary boost during lean season so that water supply is ensured during summer?
Perhaps the authorities believe in the Mayans prophecy on the world in 2012, which prompts procrastination of important, urgent and time bound projects to stretch beyond 2012! But what would be the strategy if the world happens to survive beyond 2012.

Islanders Protest Power Cuts


THE LIGHT OF ANDAMANS | VOL 35 | ISSUE 29 | 16 MARCH 2012

Islanders Protest Power Cuts

By Staff Reporter
  

In a rare show of strength and civic sense, hundreds of Islanders marched from Goal Ghar to Electricity Office on 16 March protesting the unjustified power cuts imposed on the them by both the Administration and Suryachakra.
Peacefully protesting Islanders from almost all walks of life, joined the rally with candle, torches, mobile lights and emergency lights. Some were holding banners and handbills. Candles were placed in front of the Electricity Office as a symbolic gesture.

Hopelessly and Helplessly,Obviously Silently


THE LIGHT OF ANDAMANS | VOL 35 | ISSUE 29 | 16 MARCH 2012

NA KAHU SE BHAIR:

Hopelessly and Helplessly, 
Obviously Silently

By Ramta Jogi

This city is what it is because our citizens are what they are" - Greek philosopher Plato has said. I quite often think that does this sarcastic but candid comment not apply mutatis mutandis to the city and citizens of Port Blair. Be it water supply or be it power supply, the basic civic amenities required for every citizen, even after 64 years of independence, and even after lofty promises made by the Administrator twice a year i.e on Independence Day and on Republic Day, year after year, the citizens of the city of Port Blair are content to compromise and live - hopelessly and helplessly, obviously silently.
No sooner than the Summer begins, there is disruption and curtailment of power supply invariably year after year. Nobody really knows as to whether there is disruption in power supply or it is disrupted! While the Electricity Department of Andaman & Nicobar Administration and the Suryachakra Corporation are too busy in mud-slinging on each other the poor citizens continue to suffer. Some groups are organizing Nukkad Sabhas (street corner meetings) but are such Nukkad Sabhas, in which the orators and the listeners are the same helpless victims going to yield any result? One fact behind power crisis not known to many is that it is absolutely attributable to two "Honourables" - one being the Honourable Administrator of the Union Territory and the other being one of the Honourable Justices of Calcutta High Court. While the first one has no botheration to rampant encroachments on government land going on and on, thereby increasing the demand for power supply, the other one ordered that power supply be given to all even if they are encroachers. While the stalwarts of Electricity Department are very strict in demanding and scrutinizing the land documents of those applicants of power supply who are lawful allottees or purchasers of land, they are too liberal and prompt to extend power supply to encroachers without any valid land records for obvious reasons.
March and April are the months of School as well as CBSE Examinations and load shedding during these months causes immense problem to the students, even adversely affecting their performance. Yet the citizens of the city of Port Blair are content to compromise and live - hopelessly and helplessly, obviously silently.