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Showing posts from December, 2024

The Looming Crisis of Electricity Privatisation in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands

The Andaman and Nicobar Islands, an archipelago home to over 400,000 residents, is on the brink of a transformative shift in its electricity management. The local administration has initiated a bidding process for the complete privatisation of electricity distribution and retail supply, marking a significant transition from public to private management. While this aligns with the Government of India’s broader vision of Atmanirbhar Bharat, it raises serious concerns about affordability, accessibility, and the welfare of residents. Privatisation is not a novel concept. The government has experimented with it in various sectors, often with mixed results. However, applying this model to an essential service like electricity, particularly in an isolated region such as the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, warrants critical scrutiny. Electricity Privatisation: A Double-Edged Sword Privatisation often brings the promise of increased efficiency and improved service quality. However, these benefits ...