Erratic power supply hits services at Devanahalli Nemmadi centres

The Nemmadi centres in the Devanahalli taluk are bogged down by power problem. Of the five centres in the taluk only two had been provided with uninterrupted power supply system.

A M Gopalakrishna, a resident of Anneshwara village, had to travel 16 km to the Nemmadi centre at Chennarayapatna to get a copy of the mutation extract, though a similar centre is located just a stone’s throw away from his house. Reason - the centre has been closed for “software updation” for over a month now.

The farmer went to the next closest kiosk - Vijayapura - from where too he returned empty handed. There was no power at the centre. Finally, he could get the mutation extract at Chennarayapatna after five hours of struggle.

Even the Nemmadi Kendra at Chennarayapatna faces power outages all day long. According to the computer operator there, the centre had power only for an hour between 10.30 am and 11.30 am.

Chikkaraju, an operator at the hobli centre, said each time there was power failure, the server developed problems forcing him to turn the applicants away or ask them to wait. The UPS provided to the centre does not function for more than hour.

The battery of the UPS at the Vijayapura centre had been not functioning for several days, according to operator Ravi Kumar.

He said he had no choice but to wait for power. “Sometime I end up working late into night since there would be no power all through the day,” he said.

Shortage of stationary

Shortage of stationary is another problem the centres have to grapple with. Replenishing the stationary stock is, in fact, not the responsibility of the computer operator. The responsibility vests with the private vendors to whom a contract had been awarded.

The contract with 3I and My Sure IT Solutions Pvt Ltd, the vendors, ended in January itself. The contract had been renewed and the vendors are bound to supply the stationary.

However, Ashok, an operator at the taluk centre said they had to go all the way to Bangalore to collect the stationary themsevles.

Solar solution

When contacted, Bishwajit, Mishra, Director, EDCS, DPAR (e-Governance) said that the power backup problem, had “always been an issue.” He added that the Nemmadi project was in a transition phase, and the Revenue Department would address all problems related to the infrastructure in the new avatar of the Nemmadi project.

Mishra said that the Nemmadi Kendras would be equipped with solar panels to address power shortage. He said the issues pertaining to supply of stationary, had already been addressed.

“A few months ago, the Department introduced the Issue Tracking System, wherein the computer operator at the Nemmadi center has been given the option of sending an SMS to the headquarters in the event of shortage of resource material or other problems.

Within eight hours

The SMS also goes to the vendor, who has to resolve the problem within eight hours. The deputy commissioners and tahsildars of all districts have been informed about this system, and the issues have reduced substantially,” said Mishra.