Unprecedented load on N Grid: Power situation worsens

Lucknow, Apr 14 (UNI) The power situation in Uttar Pradesh worsens further with demands going upwards and power generation dipping lower and the enormous 'strain' on Northern Grid making import of electricity difficult.

The burgeoning gap between demand and supply has compelled the authorities to go for massive power cuts all over the state with even big cities getting power for not more than 14 hours a day.

Rural areas are the worst hit with some of the areas are getting power supply for 4-6 hours a day, reports reaching the state capital said.

The power cut is necessary for twin reasons, for saving the Grid as well as distribution of meagerly available power to all the areas of the state, even as some of the cities like Lucknow, Meerut, curfew-bound Aligarh, Etawah -- the home district of Chief Minister Mulayam Singh Yadav -- Allahabad, Sambhal, Moradabad and Agra being exempted from the roistering.

The situation has worsened in the entire northern India, including UP, following generation in 1500 MW Nathpa Jhakri Hydel project in Himachal Pradesh coming to nought and 500 MW unit in Rihand super thermal power station tripping.

This has put ''too much'' of a pressure on the Northern Grid which is linked to several states inlcuding UP, HP, Haryana , Delhi, Punjab, Rajasthan and Uttaranchal.

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