Gurgaon reels under power crisis
Welcome To CitySpidey

Location

Gurgaon reels under power crisis

Major power plants fail to deliver optimally and installation of power supply infrastructure in new sectors hits roadblock as G-towners grapple with long power outages.

Gurgaon reels under power crisis Picture used for representative purpose only.

Continued power shortage from various power stations has left Gurgaon grappling with severe power cuts of up to eight hours a day.

The problem over the past ten days is giving sleepless nights to residents and there would not be any immediate respite. The entire state of Haryana seems to be experiencing one of its worst power crises in recent times. There is at least 41 per cent shortage of power in the state as two major thermal power plants in Yamunanagar and Jhajjar are facing major faults.

Power cuts sometimes last for 14 hours. Moreover, the city is engulfed in darkness after the Sun goes down due to non-functional streetlights and traffic lights. Residents have approached the Dakshin Harayana Bijli Vitran Nigam about the power cuts.

Even though residents are used to frequent power cuts, they say the current situation has thrown life completely out of gear. “We’ve been reporting power disruption since Monday. The inverter has conked out and we are unable to sleep at night. The fact that I am recovering from an attack of dengue has made matters worse for me. There was no power for almost 8 hours on Wednesday,” said Madhu Jain, a resident of Sector 14.

According to RC Chadha, a resident of Sector 17, power cuts happen mostly during daytime when it is most needed. “Our sector has been completely neglected by the department. If they could tell us in advance about power cut schedules, we could plan our day accordingly. Power goes off usually when we are getting ready for work,” he said.

The problem is just as pronounced in Old Gurgaon. Palam Vihar reported over eight hours of power cut on Wednesday. Meenakshi Yadav, a housewife from Sector 5, said, “My children can’t prepare for their examinations as it gets very dark due to foggy weather. Residents of many residential complexes also complain that power back-up systems are not of much help.”

Installation of power supply infrastructure for new sectors (Sector 65 to Sector 115) has also hit a roadblock due to unavailability of land. According to Haryana Vidyut Prasaran Nigam Limited (HVPNL), 42 substations were planned in the area, but only one has been built in Sector 72. Out of the remaining 41, land for only 12 substations has been acquired by HVPNL.

The current state of affairs has put a question mark on the tall claims made by DHBVN before the summer set in about minimal power cuts.