Power situation likely to improve today

PANCHKULA, May 6: Residents of the satellite township continue to feel the heat on account of frequent power cuts even as officials of th...

PANCHKULA, May 6: Residents of the satellite township continue to feel the heat on account of frequent power cuts even as officials of the Haryana Vidyut Prasaran Nigam HVPN claim a quot;possibilityquot; of the power situation improving by tomorrow.

Sources say that the increasing power consumption in the summer season has led to a shortfall of about five lakh units per day. quot;While the normal power consumption is seven lakh units per day, it has gone as high as 12 lakh units per day,quot; says an HVPN official.

The major reason for the shortfall, according to sources is non-availability of power from the Kunihar Hydro-electric Project in neighbouring Himachal Pradesh as some of the units are in the process of being finalised.

Representatives of the HVPN and the state government reportedly met Himachal government officials today to get the much needed additional power supply released. quot;We are hopeful that something is worked out and power transmission begins tomorrow,quot; an HVPN official, when contacted said. quot;Otherwise improved power supply by May 15 is assured,quot; he added.

Currently, the township8217;s power demand is being met from the Ropar thermal power grid.

This shortfall has resulted in 30-minute power cuts being imposed in different sectors by rotation. Sources say that a permanent schedule has been drawn up to offset overloading of the grid.

quot;Power goes off at least three times in a day,quot; points out J.L. Sharma, a Sector 15 resident. quot;Children and the elderly have a hard time in this heat,quot; he adds. With examinations around the corner, power cuts are also affecting the students, whose concentration is disrupted frequently.

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The 66 KV Pinjore-Panchkula high power transmission grid also needs upgradation to cope with the increased power load. A project to lay a parallel 66 KV transmission line is underway, but is expected to take some time.

The major reason for the heavy load on the grid is the sharp increase in the use of air conditioners, which draw a large amount of power.

The cuts have also affected water supply in the township. Water is supplied for a few hours in the morning and evening, but power cuts during these hours render pumps idle, resulting in the requisite pressure not being built up.