Despite the Akali government’s claims to make Punjab power surplus within three years on coming to power in 2007, the state is facing its worst power crisis in the recent past. Long and frequent powercuts are forcing people to spend sleepless nights. Ironically, the state power corporation announced 12 per cent power hike only last week, and since then the power situation has further aggravated in the state.
Adding to the miseries of the people, the Punjab state power corporation limited (PSPCL) has officially confirmed that the duration of powercuts would increase in coming days. As per the power corporation officials, unavailability of cheap power in the market has forced power rationing.
As per the new schedule issued by the power corporation on Wednesday, the domestic sector will now face an eight-hour cut daily. For the industrial sector, the one-day weekly off has been increased to two days. Already, the unscheduled powercuts ranging for several hours are causing a lot of trouble to the people. In rural areas, the situation is even grim as power is diverted to farmers growing paddy as they have to be given eight hours of free power by the government. There are cases of people capturing or beating staff of power corporation in the state.