Palamu: A high-level review meeting on electricity supply and drinking water arrangements was held at the Palamu Collectorate auditorium under the chairmanship of Jharkhand Finance, Commercial Taxes, Planning & Development and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Radha Krishna Kishore. The meeting was attended by Deputy Commissioner Dilip Pratap Singh Shekhawat, Additional Collector Kundan Kumar, senior engineers and officials of the Electricity Department and Drinking Water and Sanitation Department, along with General Manager-cum-Chief Engineer Shravan Kumar. Addressing the meeting, Minister Radha Krishna Kishore said that Palamu experiences the highest temperatures in the state and unnecessary power cuts would not be tolerated. He emphasized that uninterrupted electricity supply to the people during the severe summer season is a top priority of the government.

The minister stated that unplanned power outages during extreme heat create serious difficulties for residents and instructed the Electricity Department to work with full sensitivity and responsibility. During the meeting, GM-cum-Chief Engineer Shravan Kumar informed that Palamu district requires around 250 MW of electricity, while the present supply stands at 186 MW, leaving a deficit of nearly 64 MW.

The minister reviewed the electricity situation during peak hours and directed officials to improve load management during summer. Reviewing the power supply situation in the Chhatarpur area, officials informed the meeting that around 12 MW electricity is being supplied to industrial units while domestic consumers are receiving approximately 5 MW.The minister instructed officials to prioritize the needs of domestic consumers and strengthen the transmission system keeping future demand in mind.

Special Focus on Drinking Water Arrangements

Reviewing the functioning of the Drinking Water and Sanitation Department, Minister Radha Krishna Kishore sought detailed information regarding the number of hand pumps operating in the district, the condition of defunct hand pumps and technical issues affecting them. He directed officials to speed up repair works of damaged hand pumps and prioritize areas facing acute drinking water shortages. The minister said that ensuring availability of clean drinking water in both rural and urban areas is extremely important during the intense summer season.

He also instructed officials to ensure proper drinking water arrangements at public places, marketplaces, bus stands and major intersections so that commuters and local residents get relief from the heat. On this, Deputy Commissioner Dilip Pratap Singh Shekhawat informed the meeting that such arrangements are being continuously undertaken by the district administration. The meeting also reviewed the installation of new hand pumps, progress of water supply schemes and operational status of defunct water towers in the district.