MTLT lock offices of Mokokchung Power Department
Our Correspondent
Mokokchung | August 24
Frustrated over the continuous disruption of electricity supply in Mokokchung, hundreds of youth under the aegis of the Mokokchung Town Lanur Telongjem (MTLT) on Wednesday locked the three offices of the Department of Power.
The three offices locked by the youth include Executive Engineer (Electrical Division), Executive Engineer (Transmission Division) and SDO (Electrical Division) – which are located in different parts of the town. The Executive Engineer (Electrical Division) Mokokchung was out of station, reportedly at Dimapur overseeing the restoration of the damaged transformer under repair.
The SDO (Electrical Division) who was in office, assured that the department is working on a war footing to restore regular power supply in the town.
After locking the offices, the youth marched to the Deputy Commissioner’s office; however the DC, Sushil Kumar Patel, was out of station as well. Therefore, the agitators met the ADC, Bendanglila and handed over a charter of demands addressed to the Minister of Power, Government of Nagaland.
While accepting the ‘demand charter for power’, ADC Bendanglila said she would immediately dispatch the document to the state government and also discuss on the gravity of the situation with the concerned department and the state government.
The ADC also provided her assurance in a written document to the officials of MTLT. The MTLT reiterated that the locked offices should remain closed until the state government gives a positive response ‘in writing’ to its demands.
It cautioned that if the offices were opened, they would resort to stringent actions; the consequences of which would be borne by the district administration.
Later, the MTLT held a closed door meeting and discussed about the day’s action and future course of action if the state government failed to meet their demands.
Earlier in the morning, the MTLT held a short meeting which was also attended by representatives from the All Ward Union, Mokokchung (AWUM). The AWUM extended their support to the MTLT and added that the two organizations are working for the same cause and therefore urged them to pursue the matter till the end. No incidence of violence was reported during the protest.
MTLT demand charter for power in Mokokchung
• Immediately replace the damaged 5MVA transformer at the power station and with a higher capacity transformer.
• The present 2.5 MVA at the power station be upgraded.
• The government must keep a spare transformer at the power station to be used during emergencies.
• Set another power station (10MVA) at Majakong Ward and an additional 10MVA at the existing sub-station at Salangtem (as per the assurance made to MTLT at DPDB meeting in 2015).
• Support AWUM demand for an exclusive transmission line for Mokokchung Town.
• Demand the utilization certificate of amount sanctioned to the Mokokchung Power Division during the financial year 2014-15 for maintenance works within 7 days.
