Noida industrialists, residents suffer alike due to power cuts

The city has been witnessing frequent power cuts, further troubling the residents already dealing with the soaring temperatures this summer. Residents have complained about frequent power cuts lasting two to three hours each.

The city has been witnessing frequent power cuts, further troubling the residents already dealing with the soaring temperatures this summer. Residents have complained about frequent power cuts lasting two to three hours each.

One of the major reasons being cited for power cuts is the damage to transformers due to overloading, leading to outages. (Sunil Ghosh/HT photo)

The power department seems to be unable to meet the city’s electricity demand. According to officials, while the demand for electricity in Noida is 1,245 mega watts (MW), the department is barely able to supply 1,150 MW, resulting in rampant outages.

Currently, there are 47 substations in Noida. Another 11 have been under-construction for the past one and a half years.

On Friday, the Federation of Noida residents’ welfare association (Fonrwa) also wrote to chief minister Akhilesh Yadav to pass the necessary directions to relieve the city of frequent power cuts.

“Even after being notified as a ‘No Power Cut Zone’ in 1993, Noida is still reeling under long power cuts. Residents are enduring sleepless nights as well because power cuts are occurring even during nights. Inverters have stopped functioning as there is very little time to recharge them,” said AN Dhawan, general secretary, Fonrwa.

One of the major reasons being cited for power cuts is the damage to transformers due to overloading, which leads to long power outages.

In the past two months, the power department has reported over 50 transformers being damaged in different localities.

“With the increasing temperature, the load on the transformers also increases, which leads to overloading. We have asked for more transformers from the authority and they have agreed to provide us with 60 of them,” said Mukul Singhal, superintending engineer, Pashchimanchal Vidyut Vitaran Nigam Limited (PVVNL), Noida.

Meanwhile, the city’s industrialists have also been affected as the power cuts are affecting their production costs and output.

“Power cuts every 15 minutes are a major nuisance for us. As soon as the machinery used in production gets heated after the power comes back, another power cut starts. This on and off situation has affected us economically as our output has reduced,” said Hari Kishan Gautam, an industrialist at Sector 7.

However, officials hold that the average supply of electricity in the city is unaffected.

“There is a breakdown in one corner of the city only every 15 days or so. Once a breakdown occurs, it gets resolved in the next two days. Apart from this, there is no major problem in the city and we have round-the-clock power supply with us,” said Singhal.