The frequent power cuts in Noida, due to sharing of power with Ghaziabad, has irked the residents, social organisations, political parties and industrial bodies, who objected to it before competent authorities and demanded proper supply of electricity in the region. Currently, Noida Electricity Department is supplying 150 MW to Ghaziabad due to the breakdown of power transmission system. The people also sought the roll back of increased power tariff with immediate effect.
On Monday, thousands of protesters, including BJP and Congress workers gathered at various places — including the office of Noida Authority, office of Noida Electricity Department, city Magistrate's office and some other places. The agitators also questioned concerned departments for sharing electricity with Ghaziabad while Noida is already reeling under severe power crisis. Apart from this, the Government's decision to increase power charges to 40 per cent has also angered the people. The agitators have warned the power corporation to face severe consequences in the near future if their demands are not accepted.
The reports of massive power cuts were reported on Monday from every nook and corner of the city, including industrial belts, and the worst affected were the rural areas where discoms supplied electricity for only eight to ten hours. In urban areas, power outage was reported was between five and 10 hours. Owners of various industries and residents, living in multi-storey buildings, have blamed the Power Department for their increasing expenditure on diesel-driven power back up.
Blaming Uttar Pradesh Power Corporation limited (UPPCl) for the recent crisis, Noida MlA Mahesh Sharma said that the poor planning of the Power Department has led to the power problem in the region. "On one hand, the department has increased power prices and on the other they have ordered Noida Electricity Department to share electricity with Ghaziabad from its own allotment, without paying attention on the electricity demand of the city during the peak season," said Sharma.
lIJs @ ` lies 150 MW of electricity to Delhi, was shut down. Adding to the crisis, another unit of the Singrauli thermal power plant that supplies 50 MW to Delhi was also closed due to a recurrent fault.
"The Karcham Wangtoo, Singrauli and Nathpa Jhakri plants are down because of which the inter-regional line of Agra-Gwalior is getting overloaded," said a senior official from the Power Department. The Agra-Gwalior line is important for Delhi as it facilitates drawing power from the Western Grid. "Since we are able to draw lesser power from the Northern Grid and sourcing it from the Western Grid is also difficult due to overloading of the inter-regional line, there will be rotational load-shedding in various parts of Delhi," informed the official.
"The power went out at 2 pm and did not come until 3:30 pm on Monday. It is very difficult to live without electricity when the weather is so hot and humid," complained Rajat Anand, a resident of Rohini Sector 14. Another resident of Karkardooma said, "light went off just when the water was about to be supplied. It came after two hours and hence, I could not fill the water tank."