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Inadequate power leaves city sweating, crops dry
Inadequate rainfall this year has adversely affected both urban and rural areas of the district. While increasing demand for power has led to frequent outages, farmers have been dealing with insufficient irrigation of crops.
Inadequate rainfall this year has adversely affected both urban and rural areas of the district. While increasing demand for power has led to frequent outages, farmers have been dealing with insufficient irrigation of crops.
Though the discom maintains that no diversion of power is needed, there has been no improvement in long power cuts, residents say. In Dadri, Dankaur and Jewar, however, the discom is diverting power for agricultural purposes.
Residential sectors have been reeling under nearly six hours of power cuts daily in Noida and about 10 hours in Greater Noida.
Rashtriya Kisan Union president, Virendra Dhada, told Hindustan Times on Monday that paddy crops have not been able to get sufficient water due to the delayed monsoon.
"We have written to the district magistrate to release water in the canals. We have also demanded at least 18 hours of power supply in the villages so that we irrigate our fields properly through tubewells. At present, the pumps lie unused. We only get 6 to 8 hours of supply at night," said Dhada.
CL Gupta, superintending engineer, Paschimanchal Vidyut Vitran Nigam Limited, said, "Today (Monday), the demand is around 750 MW and supply is 700 MW. Though light rain and a cloudy sky have brought a slight dip in the mercury.”
Regarding diversion of power for irrigation purposes, Gupta said, "In Noida, it will not be needed since it comprises only urban sectors. Not much improvement has been seen with respect to outages since power generation has not kept pace with the demand."
However, Gupta said, areas such as Dadri and Jewar areas will get more power to sustain crops. Though nine hours of supply has been planned for a day, farmers are unhappy. "They demand 18 hours a day," Gupta added.
