Power crisis turns political in UP

Lucknow, Apr 24 (UNI) As Uttar Pradesh continued to reel under power and water crisis, political parties joined hands with general public to fight the battle against the state government over the prevalent crisis.

Charging the ruling BSP with overlooking basic needs of people, the Samajwadi Party, Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party had demanded the UP government to solve the power and water problems in the state at the earliest.

The youth wings of BJP and Samajwadi Party had also decided to come on the roads against the power crisis.

Due to the blistering heat, demand for power had increased. Even after importing 3700 mw from the central sector and generating about 2600 mw, UP still have a shortage of about 2500 mw as the demand during the peak hours rise to 8200 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.

People of UP, who were already battling against the power crisis, are in dismay, as they are having tough time in accumulating water for their daily requirements.

Irked over the present situation, people staged demonstration by raising slogans against the administration in several districts yesterday.

They also gheraoed the power department office and handed over a memorandom to district administration asking to avail 18 hrs of power supply, besides, uninterrupted power supply at night.

According to reports 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.

UNI PDM SP AS1553