'Power' vacuum grips Asom

Guwahati, Apr 25 (UNI) Asom is facing acute power shortage, as with two more weeks left for a new government to take over, there is no one to take care the problem.

The result---12,025 people are suffering from malaria, while half of Asom is without electricity, AASU President Shankar Prasad Roy alleged.

After a week-long stay in New Delhi, Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi is now flying to South East Asia on another week-long trip.

''As far as the administration is concerned, it is just drifting,'' said a senior civil servant who did not want to be quoted.

''With elections over by April 10, the state administration has literally stopped taking action for the next one month on the pretext of EC guidelines,'' the opposition parties alleged.

The counting would take place on May 11. It has been alleged that not a single minister is attending office. ''I am instructing officers over phone,'' said Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi putting up a feeble defence to the allegations.

''Asom needs around 700 MW but we are getting around 500 MW and hence the power cuts,'' said P K Borthakur, head of the distribution arm Asom State Electricity Board (ASEB).

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