Silvester D'Souza

Daijiworld Media Network - Kundapura

Kundapura, June 10: In the coastal region of Udupi district, Gangolli, a prominent fishing port area, witnessed continuous power outages, leading to widespread frustration among the local populace. Under the leadership of Gangolli Civil Rights Committee, villagers staged a symbolic protest in front of Gangolli Mescom office on Monday, June 10.

For several days, power cuts persisted throughout the day and night, with Mescom senior officials assuring to rectify the situation by visiting the site and ensuring proper arrangements. However, expressing dissatisfaction over the lack of concrete actions, villagers alerted Bantwal MLA Gururaj Gantiholi to intervene and ensure adequate power supply.

Harish, assistant executive engineer of Talooru subdivision, upon facing strong criticism from the villagers, promised to address the electricity issues promptly. He acknowledged persistent faults in the main power line, leading to frequent power cuts, especially during peak hours and even causing severe inconvenience to various sectors such as fishermen, hoteliers, and ice cream vendors.

The situation worsens during rainfall, exacerbating power cuts, and predicting the exact timing of power restoration becomes even more challenging. The hilly terrain exacerbates the problem, as line faults and repairs result in prolonged power outages lasting from late evenings to mornings and sometimes extending until the afternoon.

The continuous power cuts have left people frustrated, testing their patience and tolerance. The anger is palpable among the locals, as the situation seems to persist without any foreseeable solution. The need for immediate action to rectify the situation is evident, with locals urging for a swift and effective resolution to ensure uninterrupted power supply.

Representatives of Gangolli, including Vasudeva Devadiga, former member of the grama panchayat, B Ganesh Shenoi, B Prakash Shenoi, Ashok Pujari, Gopal Pujari, Chandrakarvi, Nitin Karvi, Sandeep Karvi, Madhukar Pujari, Ramachandra Pujari, and Shankar Devadiga, among others, were present at the discussion.

Harish, assistant executive engineer of Talooru subdivision, assured that efforts would be made to rectify the persistent faults in the main power line to ensure continuous and adequate electricity supply in the upcoming days, instilling hope among the locals for a resolution to their longstanding grievances regarding power outages in Gangolli.