GUWAHATI, June 16 - The Assam Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) today held the Assam Power Distribution Company Ltd (APDCL) responsible for the tragic death of two persons, including a school student, by electrocution on June 13 in the city. In a statement here, the APCC said that nowadays devices are available which can ensure automatic power cuts whenever there is a rise in floodwater in the flood-hit areas. But the APDCL has not installed such devices and this led to the tragic death of two persons in Guwahati on June 13.
It also alleged that the Minister of State for Power has demonstrated utter irresponsibility, not bothering to even visit the bereaved families of those who lost their lives in the incident. The Chief Minister and the Guwahati Development Department Minister have also not bothered to visit the bereaved families, the APCC alleged.
Though power is available at cheaper rates at the power exchange, the present government in the State is not able to ensure supply of adequate power to the consumers and hence is resorting to frequent power cuts. The Union Power Minister who had assured of coal linkage to the 660-MW Margherita coal-based thermal power project in 2015, has now declined to do so and on June 12 this year, dismissed any possibility of setting up the Margherita Thermal Power Plant. This exposes the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led government�s double standard. The State government is also maintaining a mysterious silence on this issue, alleged the APCC.
