JORHAT, Sept 3 - The State Power Department has decided to replace all bamboo posts used in supporting electricity supply lines across the State with pucca concrete posts.
The Minister of State for Power (Independent charge) Tapan Kumar Gogoi disclosed the government�s decision to replace the bamboo posts used in supporting electricity supply cables at a meeting with the Majuli district administration officials there on Sunday.
Gogoi, accompanied by the Additional Chief Secretary (Power Department) Jishnu Baruah and Managing Director of APDCL Puru Gupta, made his maiden visit to Majuli after assuming charge as a minister.
A Majuli district administration official told The Assam Tribune today that Gogoi informed in the meeting, attended by Majuli Deputy Commissioner Deba Prasad Mishra and other senior administration officials, that the government has sanctioned Rs 25 crore to carry out replacement of all the bamboo posts used in the power supply lines across Assam.
The minister said that concrete posts will be installed in place of the bamboo ones to ensure safety of the people, the official said.
It may be mentioned here that the Sarbananda Sonowal-led Government had come in for severe criticism over the number of deaths in the past two years across the state due to electrocution reportedly due to the fact that electricity supply lines passing over bamboo posts have low height and also because of cables getting torn thereby easily coming into contact with humans.
Gogoi said that to carry out the replacement of the power supply lines posts, in Majuli island alone, the cost will be Rs 59 lakh.
The minister said that a pilot project will be undertaken in Majuli to provide uninterrupted power supply to the consumers, the official stated, adding the minister also reviewed the implementation of Saubhagya Scheme � Pradhan Mantri Sahaj Bijli Har Ghar Yojana � under which all households in Majuli the island will get electricity connections, the official said.
The minister directed the district administration to find a plot of land at Bongaon area of the island for APDCL to install a power station.
Gogoi also took stock of construction and repair works of roads under PWD that were in progress.
