PM Modi’s appeal is to switch off lights, not appliances: Power ministry

Tribune Web Desk

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Chandigarh, April 4

The Union power ministry has allayed the fears over damage to the grid following Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s appeal to people to voluntarily switch off their lights between 9 pm to 9.09 pm on April 5.

“Some apprehensions have been expressed that this may cause instability in the grid and fluctuation in voltage which may harm the electrical appliances. These apprehensions are misplaced,” the ministry said.

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The Indian electricity grid is robust and stable and adequate arrangements and protocols are in place to handle the variation in demand, it added.

The ministry said: “The appeal of the Prime Minister to people is to simply switch off the lights in their homes from 9 pm to 9.09 pm on April 5. There is no call to switch off either streetlights or appliances like computers, TVs, fans, refrigerators and ACs in the homes. Only lights should be switched off.”

The lights in hospitals and all other essential services like public utilities, municipal services, offices, police stations, manufacturing facilities, etc., will remain on. The call given by the PM is to just switch off lights in residences, it said, adding all local bodies have been advised to keep the streetlights on for public safety.