IN A last-ditch bid to conserve water reserves, Mayor Dr Uma Shashi Sharma is reported to have urged Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan to direct the State Electricity Board to cut morning power supply from 6-8 am everyday.
During a meeting with the Chief Minister late on Thursday evening, the Mayor is learnt to have pointed out that power cuts during water supply hours would prevent people from using booster pumps to draw water directly from Narmada mains.
The Board, has, however, thrown a spanner in the proposal by demanding that the Corporation compensate it for losses incurred as a result of shutting off power supply.
Water from Narmada is supplied to the eastern and western part of the City on alternate days and hundreds of residents append booster pumps to the supply mains to ensure that they have enough water to last 48 hours.
Although the Corporation has launched several crackdowns against the practice and even seized several pumps, waterworks officials say it is impossible to curb the practice altogether. The only effective solution is to deny
offenders the power necessary to operate the booster pumps.
The SEB, for years, complied with IMC requests for shutting off power supply. Now, however, the Board’s precarious fiscal condition means that it cannot afford to lose any revenue and it is this that led it to demand compensation for the power cuts.
{{/usCountry}}The SEB, for years, complied with IMC requests for shutting off power supply. Now, however, the Board’s precarious fiscal condition means that it cannot afford to lose any revenue and it is this that led it to demand compensation for the power cuts.
{{/usCountry}}Mayor says…
Mayor Dr Uma Shashi Sharma: A request has been made to the Chief Minister to direct the Board to cut off power supply from 6-8 am. We expect the power cuts to begin shortly, maybe as soon as the next 2-3 days.