Power pangs raise heat in Zirakpur

Tribune News Service

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Zirakpur, July 2

Residents of Zirakpur have run out of patience. They are out on roads to protest frequent power outages in this hot, humid weather. For the past three-four days, the power situation here has become acute with 12-15-hour power cuts being imposed on a daily basis even though the situation was slightly better today.

Residents said due to long power outages, even inverters became useless. Some said charging mobile phones too had become a big task. “There is a lot of voltage fluctuation. All electrical appliances run the risk of damage. The voltage is so low during the three-four hours when power is there that ACs do not work and fans move at a snail’s pace,” said Alok Mishra, a Guru Nanak Enclave resident.

A senior citizen from Dhakoli, K Kapoor, said, “There is a loss of Rs500 to Rs1000 every day in the form of food items, milk, curd, ice cream, vegetables and fruits kept in the refrigerator. PSPCL officials are highly irresponsible. At first, they do not pick up the phone despite repeated calls. If they take the call, they misbehave with the caller.”

The power cut scenario may be a recent development but electric power supply has been hit in Zirakpur for decades. There is a weekly scheduled power cut of five to six hours. With increasing power demand every year, the infrastructure cannot match the pace of population growth. There is an urgent need to upgrade old transformers and wires in the area.

Officials said power distribution was a major bane of this region. Unauthorised power connections and power theft too take away a big share.