In ‘power-surplus’ state, frequent outages irk locals

Tribune Reporters

Chandigarh, January 11

Several areas in Punjab continue to face unscheduled power cuts, affecting normal lives, particularly during peak summer and winter season, despite the state having surplus power-generation capacity.

Residents in different areas of Ludhiana district complained of interruptions in their daily life routine due to frequent undeclared cuts and system breakdown. These directly affect basic services like the supply of drinking water and sewerage.

A Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) Ekta Ugrahan leader, Shingara Singh Mann, said, “We are getting just four-hour supply in our fields against the government promises of uninterrupted supply.” Residents in border villages, particularly Gurdaspur and Tarn Taran, complained of a failed infrastructure for regular supply. Manjinder Pal Singh, a youngster of Dala village in Gurdaspr village, says, “I cannot have a fixed schedule for my studies because the supply is erratic.”

Despite being proclaimed a power-surplus state, power cuts are reportedly being imposed in Bathinda. The current situation appears more irksome to residents as Bathinda virtually remained a “power cut-free” zone during the 10-year tenure of the Badal government from 2007 to 2017. A cross-section of power corporation officials contacted by The Tribune correspondents at different stations in the state denied any power shortage. They conceded to problems “largely due to routine maintenance work”.

Tarn Taran: Jodhpur, Aladinpur, Piddi, Chutala, Shahabpur and Rureassal villages near the International Border continue to feel the pinch of frequent power cuts. The issue has featured at top-level meetings of the state government, including those presided over by the Chief Minister.

Sawinder Singh Chautala, a farmer leader, said, “Upset over the frequent cuts in our area, when villagers went to complaint centres, officials resorted to filing criminal complaints against villagers.” The situation is no different in Khalra, Khemkaran, Valtoha Bhikhiwwind, Sarai Amanat Khan and Chabal areas.

There are many villages where transformers have not been replaced since decades and the supply has increased manifold. Manjit Singh, a former sarpanch of Varhian, said the villagers were facing power cuts often as the conductors had not been replaced for the past 50 years. Residents of Thakarpur village, near Patti, too had a similar complaint. Officials have, in the past, alleged that residents were habitual offenders in stealing power. Jatinder Singh, senior engineer of the Powercom circle, said there were 92 overloaded feeders in the district and the conductors of 22 feeders were to be replaced.

‘Depend on motors’

Ludhiana: Residents of different areas, including Hargobind Pur, Chhapar, Latala, Chhanna, Barundi, Jand, Lohgarh, Dhulkot, Ghungrana, Maherna and Dehlon, complained about the unscheduled power cuts interrupting normal life.

Jashan Singh, a Dhulkot resident, said, “We are dependent on motors for getting water supply for our homes. Due to power cuts, we do not get regular supply of drinking water at our homes.”

A local Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL) official denied any power cuts. However, he conceded interruptions due to maintenance work. Punjab Kisan Sabha leader Baldev Singh Latala alleged problems in agriculture and allied activities in the absence of required uninterrupted supply. Latala said, “We often have to feed and milk our buffaloes and cows with the help of torches in the mornings and evenings.”

Municipal Council president Suraaj Mohammad said the provision of basic amenities was also affected due to frequent failure of supply at crucial hours of the day. Khanna SE TS Brar and Ahmedgarh SDO Gagan Deep said as such no power cuts were being imposed these days. However, load shedding was resorted to in case of contingent overloading. “What people misconceive as power cuts is actually a shutdown due to faults or planned maintenance work in various subdivisions,” Brar said.

‘Faulty lines to blame’

Hoshiarpur: Villages in Hoshiarpur district face problems due to faulty supply lines, particularly in the rural areas of the district. Power supply to 1,428 villages of the district is now connected to the urban pattern supply, so supply was uninterrupted. At the same time, there are villages which are getting supply from transformers located far away. Power tripped very frequently in these areas.

Of the 366 feeders in the district, there are 11 feeders that remained overloaded during peak summer last year. “The conductors in these feeders need to be replaced according to the increased load,” said Superintending Engineer Parvinder Singh Khamba .

‘Shortage of staff a problem’

Jalandhar:Jalandhar district is facing problems due to shortage of technical staff. As per official information, there was a shortage of around 1,000 linemen and assistant lineman (ALM) in the Jalandhar circle. Harjinder Singh Bansal, Deputy Chief Engineer, Jalandhar circle, said, “In case we get the required strength, we will be able to render better maintenance services to people in our area.”

At the same time, industrialists complained of power tripping. A leading industrialist, requesting anonymity, said, “Unannounced power cuts to industry are very common. Our work is affected in the name of maintenance. If the state had extra power, it should be natural for the authorities concerned to automatically upgrade its supply infrastructure.”

Twin trouble in IB villages

Gurdaspur:Erratic power supply in hamlets located near the International Border was adding to the winter woes of the villagers. Bhola, Dala and Khudadpur villages are facing twin trouble of no electricity and drinking water. Almost everybody in these hamlets are dependent on either water from tanks or submersible pumps installed in their homes. In the absence of power, the pumps cannot function following which residents have to go without potable water for days together.

No more ‘power-cut free’ zone

Bathinda:Power cuts are reportedly being imposed in Bathinda also. The current situation appears more irksome to residents as Bathinda virtually remained a “power cut-free zone” during the 10-year tenure of the Badal government from 2007 to 2017.

A cross section of residents said the PSPCL must get better infrastructure as it was being seen that power cuts were being imposed in the name of maintenance work throughout the year.

(With inputs from Gurbaxpuri, Mahesh Sharma, Sanjeev Bakshi, Aakansha Bhardwaj, Ravi Dhaliwal and Sukhmeet Bhasin)