The power department has often come under criticism for its inability to meet the growing demand of the consumers. One can rightly understand that this inability has been caused by a number of factors, fundamentally centered on issues of inadequate and ineffective infrastructure coupled with policy decisions that falls short of a visionary direction that is intended to attain self-sufficiency. In fact present trend only shows an increased continuation of dependency on outside sources.
This however does not necessary imply lack of natural sources to generate power, it just implies the absence of will to address this issue with decisiveness and rectify the need to maximize local resources and to instill a spirit of efficient and accountable governance within the power department. Unless political will is mustered up to address these primary questions around power supply, it would be futile to pursue the agenda of development with such gusto, without having the necessary infrastructure to back it up.
Unless the core problems ailing the power department are addressed positively and without delay, the public will have to bear the brunt of tactless decisions. Take for instance the present decision to shutdown the transformer in Nagarjan for repair work, which is to last 30 days, with effect from March 14. The timing of it could not have been worse. While it is understandable that this immediate problem is only a symptom of larger systemic issues, it only indicates lack of preparedness. While this shut down has affectively snubbed the enthusiasm of cricket fans, who were looking forward to the World Cup, it has seriously affected the daily lives of people.
Power supply in Dimapur has effectively been reduced due to constant load shedding. We are now experiencing a situation of 12|12 power play. By this it means that during the shut down most of Dimapur is receiving only 12 hours of power supply per day. This situation will likely continue for at least another 28 more days. While one can empathize with those in the power department that is trying its best to be relevant even in the face of acute shortages, yet one just cannot comprehend the rationale to load shed every other hour. It lacks sensitivity.
Considering the seriousness of the shutdown and the duration of the load shedding process it would have been worthwhile for the administration to have taken the public bodies in Dimapur and Peren into confidence so that a practical and effective approach in determining the load shedding hours could have been formulated with the involvement of the public. Failure to consult with the people and to win their confidence has only heightened mistrust, hence further undermining the credibility of the power department.
For now, we have to do with load shedding every other hour, with the hope that those manning the switches play fair and square in their allocation to different colonies. In this 12|12 power play, we just have to bear the heat and listen to the rattling of the generators. For sure, if this were to happen in another society, people would have been out on the streets. But this is Dimapur, and people are rather laid back with a conformist attitude and until active civil groups utilize and implement pro-active legislations like RTI to hold the government departments accountable, Dimapur sure will have a long summer ahead.