Prez address: Varsity blames Idco for blackout

Bhubaneswar: The inquiry by a three-member team of Maharaja Sriram Chandra Bhanja Deo University (MSCBU) has blamed the Odisha Infrastructure Development Corporation (Idco) for the nine-minute blackout during President Droupadi Murmu’s address in the university on May 6, it is reliably learnt.
The report by Post Graduate council chairman PK Satapathy, registrar Sahadev Samadhia and development officer Basant Kumar Mohanta said though the blackout may be due to technical faults in the MCB (miniature circuit board), Idco is responsible for delay in restoration of power for nine minutes.
The varsity inquiry panel has pointed out decisions taken in a preparatory meeting where it was decided that Idco would take care of the electrical services part. Idco was entrusted with the work of the indoor hall of the university where the President addressed the convocation.
Contrary to earlier reports that only lights did not work during Murmus address, the inquiry committee has said the air conditioners also did not work during those nine minutes. However, participants didn’t realise it because the hall continued to remain comfortably cool.
Idco, in a separate report termed the blackout as accidental and did not blame anyone. tnn