Angul: The district education officer (DEO) was caught on a wrong foot after a power distribution company cut off power supply to the office on charge of power theft for over 15 months Saturday.
The matter came to the fore after Enzen officials reached the spot and disconnected the power supply when the staff were on a holiday for second Saturday. Senior officials contacted Enzen authorities but they refused to listen unless the former clears the total outstanding.
On being informed, the collector intervened but company laid down stiff conditions for reconnecting the power supply. The collector directed the company to give temporary connection to the office till it clears the arrears. However, the matter will be cleared after the office reopens Monday. The incident has come at a time when matriculation examination is round the corner.
The incident raised eyebrows as the power theft charge has been leveled against an government department.
The action came after a probe by Enzen found the office using power from the service line for over last 15 months without regularising the supply. Locals blamed DEO for the incident.
Sources said the new DEO office after its construction was scheduled to be inaugurated by the Chief Minister during his visit here November 18, 2014. The DEO in a hurry contacted CESU and Enzen and took a temporary connection to the office by hooking from a service line with a promise that they would regularise the supply once the office building is inaugurated.
The Chief Minister visited Angul and attended various programmes but the DEO office could not be unveiled. Later, the DEO officials moved into the new building and the office started functioning from the place. Since then several months have passed but none ever thought of regularising the supply.
Attempts made to contact DEO Sachidananda Behera on his mobile phone went unanswered. PNN
