Burla, 13th February 2025: It has come to our notice by various media reports recently that, doctors treated some patients with torch lights and Mobile lights on 11th instant at the VIMSAR Medical College Hospital.
We wish to clarify the situation and address any confusion regarding our role in this matter: TPWODL is not responsible for the operation and maintenance of electricity supply with in the VIMSAR medical college and hospital. The responsibility of the power supply and infrastructure maintenance within the VIMSAR premises comes under the responsibility of the VISMAR authorities and of the General Electrical Division (GED), which is a part of Public Works Department.
It is not out of place to mention that, to repair and maintain the infrastructure within VIMSAR, GED regularly sends requests to our Burla Sub-Division for a Permission to Work (PTW) and shut down the power supply from the source whenever required, and the same is provided from time to time as and when the same is requested for by the GED officials.
On that particular day, the PTW was requested by GED for repair and maintenance and the power was shut down as per their request from 12 Noon to 3.30PM. Since it was not a general shut down and only the power supply was shut down to VIMSAR, the officials of VIMSAR and GED should have communicated to all concerned in VIMSAR.
As and when TPWODL shuts down power, it is published in local media and also made loud speaker announcements in the areas where the power supply will be shut down, regularly. Therefore, TPWODL is not at all responsible for such kind of miss for which the patients suffered or the treatment was provided to them with improper alternative power supply.
It is important to note that it is the responsibility of GED to ensure a reliable power supply within the medical premises, including ensuring a backup supply from the DG (Diesel Generator) system. It appears that GED did not properly communicate the planned shutdown to the VIMSAR management, which may have contributed to this incident.
We would also like to inform all that, The VIMSAR medical college is connected through a ring so that uninterrupted power supply can be provided to the most important medical institution of Western Odisha. In case if there is any failure of power from one source, the same can be provided from the other source due to any kind of break down in the power distribution network in Burla.
It is our continuous endeavour to ensure that the power supplied to our consumers are reliable and uninterrupted always and that to an important institution like VIMSAR at Burla.
