Power Outage During Agriculture Festival: Collector Issues Notice to MPSEB Officials

Power Disruption at Agriculture Festival; Collector Issues Notice to MPSEB Officials

District Collector Kirodi Lal Meena has issued a notice to Manish Gautam, Superintendent Engineer (SE), and Nawab Singh Parihar, SDO E&M of the Madhya Pradesh Poorv Kshetra Vidyut Vitran Company Limited (MPSEB), following a power outage during the Balram Krishi Mahotsav program. The incident occurred on September 5, 2026, at the Navin Krishi Upaj Mandi premises in Bhind, causing significant disruption to the event.

Sources indicate that the Collector issued the notice for failing to adhere to prior instructions to ensure uninterrupted power supply for the smooth conduct of the program. An order issued by the Collector's office, District Bhind, on September 3, 2026, had explicitly directed the concerned officials to arrange for power supply at the event venue.

Chief Minister's Address Disrupted by Power Cut

At approximately 1:15 PM on September 5, 2026, the power supply failed precisely when the Chief Minister was delivering his address. This unexpected interruption not only marred the dignity of the event but also hindered the audience from hearing the Chief Minister's important message.

The failure is particularly concerning as ensuring an uninterrupted power supply at such public events is a primary responsibility of the relevant departments. Such disruptions during the Chief Minister's speech caused inconvenience to the attendees and raised questions about the efficiency of the government machinery.

These disarrays during significant events like the Krishi Mahotsav also highlight a lack of coordination between organizers and concerned departments. The incident clearly demonstrated that previous directives were not effectively followed, leading to the disruption of a major public gathering.

Officials Instructed to Provide Immediate Clarification

In light of this serious negligence, Collector Meena has instructed SE Manish Gautam and SDO Nawab Singh Parihar in the issued notice to submit their clarification immediately. They must explain why the power supply was disrupted during such a critical event, despite clear orders to ensure necessary arrangements beforehand.

This directive clearly signals that the matter is being taken very seriously. If both officials fail to provide a satisfactory explanation, unilateral disciplinary action will be initiated against them under the Civil Services Conduct Rules, 1965. Such action is intended not only to hold responsible officials accountable but also to prevent the recurrence of such incidents in the future, ensuring the smooth conduct of important public events.