Kota: In an embarrassing moment for Rajasthan's power administration, electricity failed during a development review meeting chaired by Energy Minister Heeralal Nagar at the Kota Zila Parishad auditorium. The meeting, focused on development projects in the Sangod Assembly constituency, came to a standstill as the hall remained without electricity for nearly six minutes.
Senior district officials and electricity department representatives continued discussions under dim natural light after staff hurriedly opened curtains while others rushed to activate the backup generator. Power was restored only after the generator became operational.
The incident triggered immediate concern and visible discomfort among officials present.
Minister Issues Stern Warning
Following the outage, Minister Nagar expressed dissatisfaction over the failure and instructed electricity distribution officials to eliminate negligence in power management.
He stressed that electricity demand rises significantly during the monsoon due to increased agricultural irrigation and directed officials to:
Ensure uninterrupted electricity supply during the rainy season.
Improve response time to power failures.
Strengthen monitoring of distribution infrastructure.
Maintain reliable backup arrangements for public institutions.
The minister warned that lapses affecting consumers would not be tolerated.
Development Projects Also Reviewed
Beyond electricity issues, the minister conducted a detailed review of rural development works across the Sangod Assembly constituency.
He instructed officials to improve cremation ground infrastructure by ensuring:
Permanent all-weather access roads.
RCC-based shelters instead of temporary tin sheds.
Facilities that prevent families from conducting last rites under temporary covers during heavy rainfall.
Focus on Accountability and Quality
The minister criticized delays in project execution and ordered stronger field supervision.
Key directions included:
Formation of clusters comprising three Gram Panchayats each.
Assignment of Junior Engineers to every cluster.
Regular presence of engineers at Panchayat headquarters.
Continuous monitoring of ongoing development works.
Better Drainage for Longer-Lasting Roads
To improve infrastructure durability, officials were instructed to construct V-shaped stone drainage channels alongside interlocking and cement concrete roads.
According to the minister, improved drainage will reduce waterlogging, protect road surfaces during monsoon rains, and extend the lifespan of public infrastructure.
