South feels the heat of bias

Since May 4, sectors located to the north of the Madhya Marg have witnessed 78 hours of power cuts. Seen in isolation, the data suggests the residents of the posh sectors, too, are sweating and suffering for a change. But here's the real picture.

Since May 4, sectors located to the north of the Madhya Marg have witnessed 78 hours of power cuts. Seen in isolation, the data suggests the residents of the posh sectors, too, are sweating and suffering for a change. But here's the real picture.

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In the same period between May 4 and May 30, there have been power outages totalling to 250 hours in the sectors located on the southern side of the thick line that geographically divides the city into two. While the northern sectors house politicians, industrial magnates and have historically been associated with seats of power, southern parts mostly house the service class get step-motherly treatment on almost all counts.

As per the power cut schedule framed by the UT's department of electricity, barring Sector 7, not even a single northern sector has witnessed a total power outage of more than 8-10 hours in the past 26 days.

On the other hand, on May 4, Sectors 22, 23, 24, 36, 37, 32, 42, 43, 45 and 46 witnessed five-hour power cuts. Then again, on May 17, residents of Sectors 41-46 witnessed power outage for six hours during the day. And on May 30, Sector 51 witnessed a power failure that hit supply for eight hours. Besides, three to four southern sectors and two or three villages of colonies in the southern parts are bearing power cuts for 3-4 hours everyday.

As per the UT engineering department wing that is responsible for the upkeep of electricity infrastructure, power cuts are owing to frequent faults in the supply lines.

MP Singh, superintendent engineer of the operation circle, department of engineering admitted, "The infrastructure used to deliver power to southern sectors is not strong enough to deal with the increasing demands of such sectors. We are planning to phase out the old delivery system."

"Authorities are frequently changing wires and transformers, but only after a fault surfaces," said Gurbux Rawat, councillor, Ward 9 (Sector 39-40).