'No notification issued for early closure of shops'

New Delhi, May 6 : No notification has been issued for closure of shops after 1930 hrs and power-saving measures, announced by Minister Haroon Yusuf are only advisory in nature, Delhi government clarified today.

An official statement said citizens should avoid using neon and decorative lights from 1930-2300 hrs, switch on their air conditioners after 2100 hrs only and try to close their offices by 1930 hrs.

Power should be saved for residential and commercial areas facing loadshedding on account of shortage in peak hour demand, it said.

The government clarified that there was no proposal to alter the timings of power supply to shops/industrial units. The instructions are ''only advisory in nature'' and the ''temporary measures'' would be in place till the power situation improved.

Earlier in the day, Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit assured a traders delegation, that called on her to protest the reported move, that the government does not intend to issue any notification ordering closure of shops after 1930 hrs.

According to Confederation of All India Traders Secretary General Praveen Khandelwal, Ms Dikshit clarified that the government had merely sought the recommendations of the high powered Committee on Power for drafting a 'contingency plan' to meet the shortfall in demand.

In the event of acute power shortage, the government intends to merely make an appeal to the people of Delhi to save power and no order or notification would be issued, she said.

Meanwhile, there was some good news for Delhiites. An official spokesman said Delhi had been allocated 109 MW of additional power from today and another 41 MW would be made available from May 8. One unit of 210 MW at Dadri, which is under planned maintenance till May 15, is expected to start production from May 12.

The power distribution company BSES, meanwhile, issued the loadshedding schedule for May. Loadshedding may increase or decrease depending on availability of power for distribution, it said. Moreover, there will be restricted power supply to the notified industrial areas between 1800 to midnight.

UNI