Sri Vijaya Puram | August 23, 2026
Frequent and prolonged power interruptions across parts of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands are increasingly affecting everyday life, with residents not only losing hours of electricity but also being forced to spend their own money on inverters, batteries and other backup arrangements to maintain basic household and business activities.
For many families, an inverter has gradually shifted from an optional convenience to an essential household expense. During repeated outages, residents depend on backup power for fans, lights, internet routers, computers and other basic electrical equipment. Small businesses face similar pressures, while students struggle to study during interruptions.
The burden becomes particularly difficult in the Islands' hot and humid climate. A prolonged outage can mean several hours without fans or cooling, while households dependent on electric pumps, refrigerators and other appliances face additional difficulties.
The problem is not confined to Sri Vijaya Puram. Reports from Long Island and Diglipur have highlighted serious generation constraints and dependence on diesel generator sets. In Long Island, concerns have been raised over the functioning of its diesel generator capacity, while Diglipur has also faced recurring power-supply problems.
From Election Promise to Ground Reality
The electricity situation also raises questions about commitments made during the 2024 Lok Sabha election.
The BJP's local Sankalp Patra for the Andaman and Nicobar Islands promised round-the-clock clean water and electricity to every household, irrespective of remoteness.
Bishnu Pada Ray, the BJP candidate at the time, subsequently won the lone Lok Sabha seat and became the Islands' Member of Parliament.
Yet recurring power interruptions remain a concern in several parts of the Islands.
This does not necessarily mean that no action has been taken. The Administration and Electricity Department have pursued additional generation capacity and longer-term projects. A proposed 50-MW LNG-based power project at Hope Town is intended to strengthen the Islands' power supply, while other generation and distribution measures have also been undertaken.
However, the key question for residents is increasingly simple: When will reliable electricity become a reality in their homes, rather than something they have to compensate for with their own money?
The Electricity Department itself acknowledges the unique challenge posed by the Islands' geography. Unlike mainland areas connected through a large integrated grid, the electrified islands operate through separate power systems, with individual powerhouses catering to local areas.
That geographical challenge is real, but residents say it cannot become a permanent explanation for unreliable service.
For a family buying an inverter, installing a battery and continuing to pay its electricity bill, the issue is no longer merely about an occasional outage. It is about paying twice — once for electricity service and again for protection against its interruption.
With the 2024 election promise of round-the-clock electricity still fresh in public memory, residents now have a legitimate question:
What concrete measures have been completed, what remains pending, and when can Islanders expect dependable power without having to maintain their own backup systems?
Dweep Tulika | A Truthful & Unbiased Perspective