SABROOM: South Tripura’s Sabroom subdivision is staring at a severe power crisis after all temporary linemen of the Tripura State Electricity Corporation Limited (TSECL) abruptly went on an indefinite work stoppage from Thursday morning, threatening to plunge the entire area into darkness.
The workers allege they are made to risk their lives during storms and heavy rain to keep the power supply running, yet are provided no minimum life insurance coverage. They claim several linemen have met with accidents while on duty in the past, but the authorities have taken no corrective action. The agitating workers have warned they will not resume work until their demands for a wage hike and life security measures are met.
The timing has alarmed the power department, as the ongoing monsoon season requires extensive maintenance of electrical lines. Sabroom sub-division Senior Manager Asim Das told media persons that the situation was spiralling out of control due to the stoppage. He said extensive line maintenance work is urgently needed during the monsoon, and that power supply may have to be suspended entirely if the linemen do not return to work.
Das added that senior authorities have been informed of the situation. However, unless the matter is resolved soon, residents of Sabroom could face an unprecedented crisis in power supply.
Efforts to reach TSECL’s higher officials for a response on the workers’ insurance and wage demands remained unsuccessful till the time of filing this report.