The problem of power cuts is deepening in Dehradun and other parts of the State seemingly in proportion to the deepening of the winter chill. Even when the power is there the low and fluctuating voltage is creating problems. During this time, the people use geysers and room heaters to beat the chill. And this is why the problem is compounding, say the power officials. Asked whether there is any solution they answer in the negative. Thus, the people residing in vast areas of the capital city like Shivlok Colony, Raipur, Nehru Colony, Harrawala, Jogiwala, Defense Colony, Dalanwala, Rajpur Road and Salawala would continue reeling under protracted spells of power- cuts running into hours on end with the power officials having thrown up their hands in helplessness.
The frequent power outages are spawning another serious problem and that is over water supply. The problem turns grim as the spell of power-cuts happen mostly in the morning hours. “We are in a mess during these harsh winter days. Electrical equipment like geysers, heaters and the like are non-functioning when we need them the most. We hope the power department would sit up and do something to spare us these long and frequent spells of power-cuts and the problems of low and fluctuating voltages,” said a homemaker from Nehru Colony, Smita Pradhan.
For the past ten days, residents of several posh colonies in Dehradun have been grappling hard with the power woes.
Anuradha Bhardwaj, resident of Defence Colony, said that the frequent disruption in power supply keeps affecting normal life. “Electricity supply is very erratic in this area. Unannounced power cuts have put us under stress. Geysers are not working. low voltage is affecting pumping of water. We have to go without water for hours. Things are proving grim for us in this chilling winter days,” she said.
Echoing the same, Radhika Bisht, Dalanwala resident, said low voltage has been proving a major problem over the past three/four days in the locality. “Fluctuations that are happening frequently are forcing us to keep our electrical appliances off to keep them away from damage. Something must be done as we are suffering for days,” she said.
Manisha Bharti, resident of Raipur, said the children are unable to take bath in the morning because of the power-cuts. “The more acute the winter is turning the grimmer turns the power-cuts,” she said, asking the power department to rid them of the problems they are facing daily.
However, Uttarakhand Power Corporation limited (UPCl) denies that there is any such power-cut anywhere in the city. A senior UPCl official Madhusudan Issar sounded surprised when told of the mounting grievances of the people due to power-cuts and low voltage problems. “We have no such information that any locality in the city is reeling under power-cuts. We have not received any such complaint from anywhere,” he said. “Maybe, power-cuts are happening in some areas due localised technical faults,” he added.
Another official who did not wish to be named said the problem had no solution. “With the people using geysers and heaters at random, the problem is bound to crop up. We have no magic wand to solve it,” he added.