No electricity cuts in Mohali, claim officials; residents differ

Kulwinder Sangha

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Mohali June 14

Though residents of Mohali have been complaining of irregular supply of electricity for various reasons this summer, officials of Punjab State Power Corporation Ltd (PSPCL) claim that power is surplus and the town is not being subjected to any power cuts.

The irony of the situation is that residents do not know whether they are facing “power cuts” or going through “power shutdowns”. All they know is that they are facing power-related problems this year.

RP Sharma, Municipal Councillor living in Phase I here, said today that “power cuts” were being imposed this year and residents were at the receiving end. Sharma said he got complaints from residents regarding disruptions in the supply, especially at night. Power tripping for small periods was a common feature. Though the number of transformers in his area had been increased from four to more than 15 this year, the power position was much better last year.

Electricity supply was cut for two to three hours daily, but officials claimed that there were no power cuts and the supply got disrupted only due to faults in the network.

Unhappy over the power position, SS Barnala, a resident of Phase XI, said the power supply was quite irregular and residents were not aware whether power cuts were being imposed or shutdowns were being taken by PSPCL. The power supply was usually switched off much before strong winds started blowing across the town and people kept wondering when it would be restored. Barnala said the 24x7 complaint centre of the PSPCL was also not functioning properly. One was unable to get through telephonically to lodge a complaint as the network remained busy.

Sanjeev Vashisht, president of the Mohali Industries Association, said there were no power cuts in the industrial sector. Whenever the supply was to be cut to carry out maintenance work, industry was informed well in advance in this regard.

He, however, said that faults developing in the power network were not attended to promptly because of a shortage of manpower, which adversely affected industrial units.

Additional Superintending Engineer Harpreet Singh Oberoi claimed that Mohali was not facing any power cuts. The availability of power for Mohali was 560 MVA against the demand of only 350 MVA. He said the power supply did not get disrupted due to any “manmade reason”. The disruption was only due to local problems such as branches of trees falling on power cables, etc., and it took time to restore the supply. Power shutdowns were resorted to under the rules at times to carry out maintenance work.

‘Mohali not facing power cuts’

Additional Superintending Engineer Harpreet Singh Oberoi claimed that Mohali was not facing any power cuts. The availability of power for Mohali was 560 MVA against the demand of only 350 MVA. He said the power supply did not get disrupted due to any “manmade reason”. The disruption was only due to local problems such as branches of trees falling on power cables, etc., and it took time to restore the supply. Power shutdowns were resorted to under the rules at times to carry out maintenance work.