Key takeaways from the blog post

The key takeaway from the blog post is the stark contradiction between high-level political promises and local administrative failure. While the central and state governments have campaigned on the promise of “24×7 Power for All,” the residents of rural Mirzapur (specifically Nibi Gaharwar and areas served by the Arjunpur feeder) are surviving on only 8 hours of electricity during the peak of summer.

The post highlights that this is not just a technical failure, but a crisis of accountability, where local electricity officials appear indifferent to the directives of the Prime Minister and Chief Minister, leaving rural populations to face “hellish” conditions due to systemic neglect and economic hardship.

The Dark Reality of Rural Mirzapur: Why 24-Hour Electricity Remains a Myth

The promises made during high-octane election campaigns often serve as a beacon of hope for the rural heartlands of India. For the residents of Nibi Gaharwar and the adjoining villages in the Chhanbey block of Mirzapur, the promise was clear: 24-hour uninterrupted power supply. However, as the summer heat of 2025 intensifies, the gap between political rhetoric and the ground reality has become a chasm of frustration and hardship.

A formal grievance (Registration Number: GOVUP/E/2025/0065071) filed by activist Yogi M. P. Singh sheds light on a systemic failure within the Uttar Pradesh Power Corporation Limited (UPPCL). The complaint targets the Executive Engineer of Electricity Distribution Division II, Mirzapur, and the Sub Divisional Officer (SDO) of the Jigna Power House, highlighting a crisis that is both humanitarian and administrative.


The Core Issue: 8 Hours of Power in a 24-Hour World

In an era where India positions itself as a global digital powerhouse, the villages connected to the Arjunpur Feeder are receiving a mere eight hours of electricity per day. This is not just a minor inconvenience; it is a total disruption of life.

The grievance emphasizes that the rural areas of Nibi Gaharwar are suffering from “poor condition” power infrastructure and “irregular supply.” When the power does come on, it is often unstable, leaving villagers unable to power agricultural pumps, fans during the sweltering peak summer, or lights for children to study.

The Disconnect Between Leadership and Local Execution

One of the most stinging aspects of the complaint is the juxtaposition of national leadership promises against local bureaucratic apathy. The complainant pointedly references the promises made by Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his initial campaigns and reiterated by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath.

  • The 24-Hour Promise: During multiple election cycles, the slogan of “24×7 Power for All” was a cornerstone of the administration’s developmental agenda.
  • The Third Term Reality: With the Prime Minister now in his third term, the grievance asks a fundamental question: Do the local Junior Engineers and SDOs in Mirzapur simply not know the promises made by their own leaders, or are they choosing to ignore them?

The sentiment expressed in the grievance reflects a growing cynicism. The complainant asks whether these promises were merely “election rhetoric,” a term famously used in different contexts by high-ranking officials, but one that feels painfully accurate to a farmer sitting in the dark in Jigna.


The Human Cost: A “Hellish” Summer in Nibi Gaharwar

The timing of this grievance—filed in mid-June—is critical. June represents the “peak hour” of the summer season in Uttar Pradesh, where temperatures frequently soar above 40°C.

  • Health and Well-being: Frequent breakdowns and long power cuts make life “hell” for the elderly and children.
  • Economic Impact: Rural economies depend on electricity for irrigation. Without power from the Arjunpur feeder, agricultural productivity stalls.
  • The Silence of the Backward: The complaint makes a poignant observation regarding “backwardness.” It suggests that many rural villages suffer in silence because they lack the resources or the knowledge to navigate the complex grievance redressal systems. The lack of previous complaints is not a sign of satisfaction; it is a sign of disenfranchisement.

Administrative Response: The Paper Trail of Accountability

As per the status of the grievance, the matter has been forwarded to Shri Arvind Mohan (Joint Secretary) at the Chief Minister’s Secretariat. The case is currently marked at the District Level, specifically directed to the Executive Engineer of Electricity in Mirzapur.

DetailStatus/Information
Grievance Number40019925016384
Concerned DepartmentElectricity (UPPCL)
Officer in ChargeExecutive Engineer, Mirzapur
Deadline for Resolution24-06-2025

While the digital tracking shows that the grievance is “Under Process,” the real test lies in the physical restoration of power. Forwarding a file is an administrative action; fixing a feeder is a technical and political one.


Why the Jigna Power House is Failing

The technical crux of the problem lies with the Jigna Power House and the Arjunpur Feeder. In many rural segments of Uttar Pradesh, the infrastructure is aging and overloaded.

  1. Overloaded Feeders: The Arjunpur feeder may be supporting more connections than its intended capacity, leading to frequent trips and “load shedding” that isn’t officially scheduled.
  2. Staff Accountability: The grievance explicitly mentions that the “accountable staff… are not paying due attention.” This suggests a lack of maintenance and a slow response time to local faults.
  3. Prioritization: Often, urban centers are prioritized for 24-hour supply to meet statistical targets, leaving rural feeders like Arjunpur to bear the brunt of power deficits.

Conclusion: A Call for Legal and Moral Action

The grievance filed by Yogi M. P. Singh is more than just a complaint about electricity; it is a demand for dignity and accountability. It challenges the authorities to move beyond paperwork and fulfill the “humble request” of the citizens who voted for a brighter, electrified future.

If the government’s vision of a “New India” is to be realized, it cannot be achieved while villages in Mirzapur are relegated to 8 hours of power. The deadline of June 24, 2025, set by the grievance system, must result in more than just a “resolved” status on a website—it must result in the hum of transformers and the glow of lightbulbs in Nibi Gaharwar.

To ensure your grievance reaches the right hands, I have compiled the official contact details for the local power authorities in Mirzapur and the state oversight officials.

1. Key Administrative Contacts (Lucknow)

The grievance is currently forwarded to the Chief Minister’s Secretariat for oversight.

NameDesignationMobile/ContactEmail Address
Shri Arvind MohanJoint Secretary (CM Office)0522-2226350arvind.12574@gov.in
Dr. Ashish K. GoelChairman, UPPCL0522-2287801chairman@uppcl.org
Shri Pankaj KumarManaging Director, UPPCL0522-2288377md@uppcl.org

2. Local Power Authorities (Mirzapur Zone)

These are the officers directly responsible for the maintenance of the Arjunpur Feeder and the Jigna Power House.

NameDesignationMobile NumberOfficial Email
J.P. Narayan SinghChief Engineer (Mirzapur Zone)9450963509ce.mirzapur@puvvnl.in
Ram DasSuperintending Engineer (EDC)9415304000se.mirzapur@puvvnl.in
Manish Kr. SrivastavaExecutive Engineer (EDD-II)9450963598ee.2mirzapur@puvvnl.in
Shubham MishraExecutive Engineer (Chunar/Jigna)9450963514ee.chunar@puvvnl.in

Note on EDD-II Mirzapur: Manish Kumar Srivastava is the specific Executive Engineer mentioned in your grievance as the primary accountable officer for the distribution division covering your area.


3. Online Portals and Application Links

If you need to track your status or file a follow-up “Reminder” (Smriti Patra), use these official links:


4. Application Details Summary

  • Grievance ID: GOVUP/E/2025/0065071
  • Second Reference ID: 40019925016384
  • Target Deadline: 24-06-2026 (based on current 2026 timeline)

Would you like me to draft a professional follow-up email addressed to Shri Arvind Mohan and the Executive Engineer to expedite this matter?

Home » Action Required: Power Supply Failures in Rural Uttar Pradesh

Facing a similar challenge? Share the details in the box below, and our team of experts will do their best to help.

June 2025
M T W T F S S
 1
2345678
9101112131415
16171819202122
23242526272829
30  
  1. Arun Pratap Singh's avatar
  2. Preeti Singh's avatar
  3. Yogi M. P. Singh's avatar
  4. Yogi M. P. Singh's avatar
  5. Preeti Singh's avatar

Discover more from Yogi-Human Rights Defender, Anti-corruption Crusader & RTI Activist

Subscribe now to keep reading and get access to the full archive.

Continue reading