Power situation continues to be grim

CHANDIGARH, July 8: Despite assurances of no power cuts by the electricity department time and again, the consumers in the city are a harass...

CHANDIGARH, July 8: Despite assurances of no power cuts by the electricity department time and again, the consumers in the city are a harassed lot due to frequent power failure and unscheduled power cuts.

The power problem, which has been continuing for the past few weeks has made things difficult for the residents especially in the southern sectors.

While the electricity officials claim that the situation has improved following the withdrawal of load shedding, due to improvement in distribution system between the city and SAS Nagar, but in reality there is hardly any improvement in the supply.

In most of the southern sectors, the power supply was suspended last night for two hours from 10.30 to 12 mid night and for another two hours from 1.30 am to 3.30 today due to technical snag in the power houses in Industrial Area Phase-I and Phase-II.

The worst sufferers were the residents of Sector 30, 31, 32, 38, 40, 44 and Sector 47 as they had to manage without power in torrid heat and humidity. Many sports lovers were enraged as they could not watch the final cricket one-dayer between India and Sri Lanka and world cup soccer8217;s much-awaited semi-final clash between Brazil and Holland. The families with small kids were also complaining.

The business in Sector 17 shopping complex was hit today as there was no power supply for three hours between 4 to 7 p.m. Short circuit in the main supply line was stated as the reason for power failure by the officials. Sector 40-A Residents Welfare Association general secretary president S. L. Goel told to Express Newsline that power breakdowns were frequent and many areas were facing the problem of low voltage for the past 15 days.

The shopkeepers of Janata rehri8217; market near Manimajra today faced inconvenience following a 24-hour power shutdown.

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In a strong worded statement the Federation of Chandigarh Traders has demanded fair distribution of power among consumers of all the categories. They said that all the sectors on the southern side were the most harassed and regularly experienced the brunt of frequent power tripping in houses, business establishments as well as industry.

Traders and industrialists blocked the traffic at Dakshin Marg near Industrial Area Phase-II on July 4 and the blockade was lifted on the assurance of chief engineer that power problem would be resolved shortly. An industrialist on condition of anonymity said: quot;No congenial steps have so for been taken and situation remains the samequot;.

Meanwhile, a delegation of Federation of Small Scale Industries led by its president Yashpal Mahajan met UT Chief Engineer R.K. Jain to discuss the power situation during the last one month.

The delegation urged the Chief Engineer for immediate creation of another electricity sub-division in the Industrial Area.