NCR summer tale: power cuts, water shortage

The National Capital Region (NCR) reeled under heavy power cuts on Thursday. With no power supply for more that 12 hours the residents had a tough time dealing with the sweltering heat, which has swept across Delhi and the NCR.

The National Capital Region (NCR) reeled under heavy power cuts on Thursday. With no power supply for more that 12 hours the residents had a tough time dealing with the sweltering heat, which has swept across Delhi and the NCR.

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Powerless in Gurgaon

The power situation has deteriorated further in Gurgaon after closure of a power generation plant in Panipat for repair. Residents of Gurgaon are experiencing 10-12 hours of power cuts everyday. Power cuts are also burning a hole in people's pockets as even those living in high-rise apartments and having 100 per cent power backup claim that their electricity bills have suddenly shot up.

“This is one of the worst summers that I have encountered. We are paying through our nose to run diesel captive power plants to ensure continuous supply of power,” said Kittu Mathur, general secretary, DLF Ridgewood Estate Condominium Association, DLF Phase IV. While normally electricity costs Rs five per unit, electricity from the captive plants costs residents Rs 10 per unit.

Ghaziabad, Noida blacked out

The situation was no different in Ghaziabad with residents of Indirapuram, Vaishali and Vasundhara claiming that there were power cuts lasting more than 12 hours everyday.

There seem to be no respite from power cuts for residents of Noida too. Residents witnessed power cuts lasting for more than six hours at a stretch on Friday affecting their daily chores. “Due to overloading and rising temperature transformers are getting heated and are tripping constantly leading to power cuts in various areas," said A P Mishra, general Manager, Paschimanchal Vidyut Vitran Nigam Limited

Faridabad’s woes

The power scenario has worsened with the closure of one power plant in Faridabad.

Agitated residents took to street to protest against erratic power supply in Neelam Bata area on Friday.

The power crisis in Faridabad had a rippling effect with water supply being affected on Friday. “Against a demand of 110 lakh units per day, we have been in a position to supply only 80 lakh units at present", said JB Mudgil, superintending engineer, Dakshin Haryana Bijli Vitran Nigam.