Powerless residents turn the heat on DVB

In Uttam Nagar, an angry mob wrecked the local BJP office in protest against unprecedented power cuts for the past 15 days. Chairs and tables were smashed, and window panes broken when BJP workers tried to intervene.

In other `dark’ areas, DVB employees — fearing public wrath — locked up sub-stations and complaint centres before fleeing for cover.

The Congress party also did its bit to protest against the situation. Hastasal MLA Mukesh Sharma, who led one such protest in Najafgarh, said that the residents were compelled to take the extreme step because frequent complaints to the authorities had failed to yield any response.

Senior Congress leader and former Union Minister H.K.L. Bhagat has asked Lieutenant-Governor Vijai Kapoor to take special measures to deal with the situation.

Bhagat pointed out that the situation in east Delhi is particularly bad, and areas from Azadpur to Narela in the trans-Yamuna area have been severely affected because of acute water shortage and frequent power cuts.

He said that people are frustrated but are still maintaining their calm because they have faith in him.

Hospitals, however, seem to be the worst hit by the crisis worsened by searing temperatures.

At Lok Nayak Hospital, for instance, power cuts lasting over four hours yesterday affected work at the operation theatres. “We were sweating profusely during an eight-hour operation as it could not be stopped midway,” said Dr Rajeev Ahuja, head of the department of burns and plastic surgery.

“Maintaining a cool temperature is particularly crucial for the burns patients and those suffering from heat stroke. Though the hospitals have been provided with generators, these are not able to take the load of air-conditioners. Without the ACs and a complete lack of ventilation, one can imagine the plight of the patients and the doctors since the fans offer little help,” he said.

The situation is similar in other residential areas including colonies like Anand Lok and Gulmohar Park where power disruptions lasted for more than six hours at a stretch today.

A resident, Dr Madan, said : “The local complaint cell numbers (6254236 and 6250972) are constantly engaged and the senior officials come up with a different excuse each time there is a power cut.”

Prof P.K. Taluja, who is a resident of Anand Vihar, near Pitampura, said that there has been no electricity in his area since last night.

“Ironically, after the DVB schedule was announced, power cuts became more frequent. If they are going to cut power in this arbitrary manner, then they should not announce a schedule at all.” The DVB, meanwhile, is reluctantly starting to admit that the power cuts have spread across the city.

According to the PRO, Jagdish Kapoor, due to low voltage in the grid, frequency relays operated only 17 times today. This affected power supply in areas like Pushp Vihar, Sheikh Sarai, Siri Fort, Punjabi Bagh, Rajouri Garden, Nehru PLace, Greater Kailash, Mayur Vihar, Patparganj, Alaknanda, Gobindpuri, Hauz Khas complex, Panchsheel, Gulmohar Park, Andheria Bagh, Khayala, Ramesh Nagar, Gazipur, Jahangirpuri, Pitampura, G T Karnal Road, Shah Alam Bandh, Vishwas Nagar, Karkardooma and Shakarpur.

Due to system constraints and local faults, power supply remained disrupted in Sunder Nagar, Dilshad Garden, Geeta Colony, Raj Nagar, Palam Village, Bali Nagar, New Rajinder Nagar, Sant Nagar and Patel Nagar.