Barak and Bodoland observe bandh over power crisis

Guwahati, May 8 (UNI) Barak valley and Bodoland in Asom today observed bandh to protest severe power crisis even as the government promised to improve the situation by end of the week.

Asom has been reeling under unprecedented power crisis following failure to generate electricity from its units and other PSUs forcing the people to go for agitation in the two regions.

State power minister Pradyut Bardoloi today said the power situation would improve to 'near normal' by the end of this week. He said the supply from hydel power stations was likely to improve this week. The present crisis was basically due to shut down of the 200-MW Kopili hydel power project and 50-MW Khandong hydro power project of North Eastern Electric Power Corporation (NEEPCO) for annual maintenance work.

Official sources said the bandh was peaceful and nearly 200 supporters were arrested from different places of the valley for picketing in front of government offices and other establishments.

While the Cachar district bandh was called by All Cachar Karimganj Hailakandi Students Association (ACKHSA), Barak Valley bandh was sponsored by the SUCI.

Meawhile the minister said Asom government was caught off guard by the shut down of NEEPCO projects and said the central sector power corporation should have informed the government about the shut down schedule in advance.

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