Long power cuts in blistering heat shakes UP

Lucknow, Apr 20 (UNI) With mercury crossing 43 degrees, Uttar Pradesh is once again reeling under acute power crisis with a deficit of about 1,800 megawatt leading to power roastering of 6 to 18 hours in almost all the districts between.

After announcement of marginal hike in the power tariff from next month, the power crisis had created political heat in the state as political parties and other organisations have announced demonstrations against the government.

Even after importing 3,700 MW from the central sector and generating about 2,600 MW, UP still have a shortage of about 1,800 MW as demand during the peak hours rise to 8,100 MW.

Power crisis in the state has affected the rural areas more than the cities, as the roastering in the villages go up to 18 hours per day leading to problems for irrigation. Scarcity of power was also leading to drinking water problems in most parts of the state.

Uttar Pradesh Power Corporation Limited (UPPCL) officials maintained that all efforts were underway to provide uninteruppted power supply, but due to the rise in demand and limited supply, roastering has to be made.

''We are ensuring that the roastering should be minimum, but still people have to bear with the crisis,'' sources said.

Meanwhile Hindu Mahasabha has announced to hold a state wide demonstration tomorrow at all the district headquarters against the power crisis and to protest the hike of power tariff.

The youth wings of BJP and Samajwadi Party have also decided to come on the roads against the power crisis and holding the Mayawati government responsible for overlooking the common-mans' problem.

However, on the other hand UPPCL sources said ''the government is ready to purchase power to end the crisis, but there is limited scope of purchase, as all the states themselves were facing similar problem. Hence, no one is ready to give power to UP.'' According to report received from drought affected Mahoba, undeclared power cuts and busting of transformers have hit the normal life of the people. Incidents of line thefts has further created furore among the locals and the matter may now pose a threat to the law and order situation in the district.

Power crisis has not only adversely affected the various industries, but also lead to shortage of drinking water.

Similar compalaints of power cuts are being received from other districts, comprising Jaunpur, Ballia, Basti, Moradabad, Meerut, Badaun, Bareilly, Bulandshahr, Pilibhit, Shahjahanpur, Hameerpur, Barabanki, Siddharthnagar and Sitapur.

The situation is said to be even worse in rural areas where electricity is being supplied for hardly six hours in a day against the urban areas where 12 hours of supply existed.

UNI MB JAS PBB KN1615