Nurpur residents demand proper maintenance of power supply lines

Rajiv Mahajan

Nurpur, July 9

The frequent power supply failures and tripping for the past month in Nurpur and surrounding rural areas has become a bane for electricity consumers in the area. Amid scorching heat and humid climate, the erratic power supply has made life miserable for area residents.

Residents of Niazpur locality in the town were without electricity supply from Monday morning till Tuesday evening. A lot of resentment has been brewing among the people residing in the areas where power supply has remained snapped for over 30 hours in a row. Children, the elderly and ailing persons are the worst sufferers. Residents of the Niazpur locality lament that they had never witnessed such a grim situation in the town. They said the authorities of Himachal Pradesh State Electricity Board Limited (HPSEBL) should maintain their power equipment and repair power supply lines timely to prevent the suffering of consumers.

The power supply failure in the Kopra panchayat area at 9 pm last night was restored at 7.30 am today. Residents of Salgot ward in the panchayat lamented that their children could not sleep last night without electricity as humid climate and mosquito bites forced them to remain awake throughout the night.

The power disruption has not only affected normal life in the area, but also disrupted working in banks, hospitals and private clinics in the area. The commercial electricity consumers selling ice creams and cold drinks lamented over the poor impact on their trading activities due to frequent power failures, tripping and voltage fluctuation. It may be taken into account that the power failures due to frequent breakdowns has become a routine feature in the area, forcing the well-off residents to install inverters at their premises. However, the poor who cannot afford the facilities are the worst sufferers.

Sources in the HPSEBL told The Tribune that poor financial health of the HPSEBL and drastic cut in the field technical staff are responsible for the poor state of affairs causing hardship to the power consumers in the state. Notwithstanding, strengthening the power supply infrastructure, the HPSEBL is all set to purchase expensive smart metres for replacing the existing electronic meters. Nurpur electrical subdivision assistant engineer Bhupinder Singh said due to damage of a transformer between Nurpur and Bodh, and theft of transformer’s oil installed at Niazpur area, the power supply remained disrupted in the town for two days.

Normal life hit, businesses affected

• The residents of Niazpur locality in the town were without electricity supply from Monday morning till Tuesday evening.
• The power disruption has not only affected normal life in the area, but also disrupted working in banks, hospitals and private clinics in the area.
• The commercial electricity consumers selling ice creams and cold drinks lamented over the poor impact on their trading activities due to frequent power failures, tripping and voltage fluctuation.