SRI VIJAYA PURAM | NOVEMBER 8, 2026 | DWEEP TULIKA | ANDAMAN NEWS

The Andaman and Nicobar Administration has marked a public grievance concerning frequent power cuts, severe voltage fluctuations and alleged damage to household electrical appliances as closed, following a response recorded from the Electricity Department. However, the available grievance status and departmental communication do not establish whether the complainant organisation's principal demand for constituting a High-Level Enquiry Committee was formally considered or acted upon.

The grievance was submitted by Our Rights Organization to the Lieutenant Governor on October 15, 2026, seeking immediate administrative intervention into the recurring electricity supply problems reportedly affecting residents across South Andaman, North Andaman and Middle Andaman.

The organisation, in its representation bearing reference number ORO/C/PB/2026-27/072, highlighted the difficulties faced by households, students, healthcare facilities and small businesses due to frequent interruptions and fluctuations in electricity supply.

It also raised concerns over reported damage to electrical appliances, including televisions, refrigerators, air conditioners, computers and other electronic equipment, allegedly resulting from irregular power supply and voltage fluctuations.

Organisation sought independent investigation

Rather than limiting its representation to a request for immediate restoration of electricity supply, Our Rights Organization sought the constitution of a High-Level Enquiry Committee to examine the actual ground realities of power generation, availability, distribution and supply across the islands.

The proposed committee was requested to investigate the causes of repeated power outages, examine abnormal voltage fluctuations, inspect power stations, generators, transformers and transmission and distribution infrastructure, and assess reported financial losses suffered by consumers.

The organisation also called for the involvement of technical experts and senior officials, with the findings and recommendations of the proposed enquiry to be made available publicly in the interest of transparency and accountability.

Its representation further requested the identification of administrative or technical shortcomings, wherever established, and recommendations for corrective measures with a clear implementation timeline.

Copies of the representation were also submitted to the Chief Secretary, Commissioner-cum-Secretary (Power), Secretary (Power) and Secretary (Vigilance) of the Andaman and Nicobar Administration.

Electricity Department cites technical reasons behind interruptions

The grievance status document available on the Central Public Grievance Redress and Monitoring System (CPGRAMS) records a response from the Electricity Department explaining the factors contributing to power interruptions.

According to the departmental response, the peak electricity demand across the islands during FY 2025–26 was approximately 68 MW. The demand was being met through a combination of the department's own generation, hired power plants and renewable energy sources, including solar and hydro projects.

The department attributed power interruptions primarily to faults in transmission and distribution lines, outages of diesel generator sets and scheduled maintenance of power generation and distribution infrastructure.

It further explained that variations in solar power generation and the absence of adequate battery storage posed challenges to grid stability, particularly during periods of peak demand.

The department maintained that scheduled maintenance was necessary to ensure the safe and reliable operation of the power system.

Department lists additional generation capacity and future projects

In its communication dated November 2, 2026, issued by the Office of the Superintending Engineer, Electricity Department, the department provided details of additional generation capacity and proposed infrastructure projects intended to improve electricity availability.

The communication stated that an additional generation capacity of 2.5 MW had been commissioned at Sri Vijaya Puram.

It also mentioned that an additional 4 MW capacity had been commissioned at Bambooflat Sub-Station on February 6, 2026, particularly to improve electricity supply to rural feeders.

Among the longer-term initiatives listed by the department are:

  • A proposed 20 MWh Battery Energy Storage System (BESS).
  • Solar power projects under the Greening of Islands initiative.
  • Rooftop solar installations under the PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana.
  • A 3.45 MW rooftop solar project on government buildings.
  • Establishment of a 50 MW LNG-based power plant at Sri Vijaya Puram, expected to be completed by December 2028.

The department stated that these initiatives were aimed at strengthening power availability and reducing dependence on diesel-based generation.

It also acknowledged the inconvenience caused to consumers due to power interruptions and reiterated its commitment to improving the reliability and quality of electricity supply across the islands. According to the communication, concerned field formations were responsible for attending to faults and undertaking necessary maintenance to minimise interruptions.

CPGRAMS records grievance as closed

The grievance status document, bearing registration number GOVAN/E/2026/0000486, identifies Our Rights Organization as the complainant and October 15, 2026, as the date of receipt.

The status report records November 4, 2026, as the date of action and displays the current status as "Case closed."

The portal also reproduces the Electricity Department's remarks and states that a PDF containing the detailed reply was attached.

Separately, a communication dated November 2, 2026, issued by the Electricity Department addresses the same subject and contains details corresponding to the departmental explanation recorded in the grievance status.

However, the available documents do not independently establish whether this separate communication was the precise attachment uploaded against the grievance.

Has the demand for an enquiry been addressed?

While the Electricity Department's response provides an explanation of the technical factors contributing to power interruptions and outlines additional generation capacity and future infrastructure projects, an important aspect of the original representation remains unclear from the available records.

The organisation had specifically sought an independent High-Level Enquiry Committee to examine power generation, distribution infrastructure, voltage fluctuations, reported appliance damage and accountability.

The grievance status and the separate departmental communication examined for this report do not establish whether such a committee was constituted, whether an independent technical assessment was conducted, or whether the organisation's specific demand was formally accepted or rejected.

Similarly, the documents do not provide details of any consolidated assessment of consumer complaints concerning appliance damage or a time-bound action plan addressing the reported voltage fluctuations.

The closure of the grievance on the portal therefore records the administrative disposal of the complaint following the departmental response. It does not, by itself, establish that all the issues raised in the original representation have been resolved on the ground.

For residents who continue to experience electricity interruptions and voltage fluctuations, the larger concern remains the reliability and quality of power supply across the islands.

With the Electricity Department outlining several ongoing and proposed infrastructure initiatives, their timely implementation and their actual impact on consumers will remain important factors in assessing improvements in the islands' electricity supply system.