Sambalpur: TPWODL’s 3-Hour Power Cut Stretches to 5 Hours; Questions Raised Over Quality of Electrical Services

Sambalpur: The TP Western Odisha Distribution Limited (TPWODL) had earlier announced that there would be a 3-hour power cut yesterday for maintenance work on a 33 kV feeder line near Ainthapali. They issued a press release stating that the electricity supply would be disrupted from 5 am to 8 am for the safety of the public.

According to their previous announcement, the power was indeed cut at 5 am as scheduled. However, the electricity was not restored at 8 am. Instead, the power supply remained disconnected until after 10 am, which is 2 hours longer than the announced duration. This incident raises several hard-hitting questions that TPWODL must answer.

First, why couldn’t TPWODL restore the power on time as they had promised? They told the public that the electricity would be cut for only 3 hours, but it took them 5 hours. Was this because they were not capable enough, or did they simply fail to plan properly, or were they just careless?

Second, when a transformer breaks down, TPWODL is supposed to bring in a mobile transformer to keep the electricity supply going. But this time, they didn’t do that, leaving many areas in Sambalpur without power for a long time. Do they not have enough mobile transformers or backup plans for such situations?

Third, TPWODL has not been transparent about why the power cut lasted longer than announced. They haven’t given a clear explanation to the public. This lack of openness makes people doubt if TPWODL really cares about providing good service to its customers.

Many areas like Ainthapali, Kainsir, Bhalupali, Budharaja, Jagannath Colony, and Gujarati Colony faced a 5-hour power cut instead of the promised 3 hours. How will TPWODL compensate these areas for the trouble caused? What will they do to prevent such incidents from happening again?

Moreover, one has to question if TPWODL’s management is capable of handling such situations effectively. Was there a lack of proper coordination, communication, or backup plans that led to this mess? If yes, what steps will they take to fix these problems and hold those responsible accountable?

TPWODL’s actions, or rather their lack of action, during this incident are unacceptable. As a responsible electricity provider, they should have taken steps to minimize the duration of the power cut and kept the public informed. Their failure to do so shows that they don’t care enough about providing good service.

The people of Sambalpur rightly want answers and accountability from TPWODL. The company must openly address this issue, apologize for the extended power cut, and take concrete steps to ensure such incidents don’t happen again. If they fail to do so, people will lose trust in their ability to provide reliable and quality electricity services, and they may even face legal or regulatory consequences.