Ghaziabad, May 20 (IANS) Amid sweltering heat, this city on the outskirts of the capital is reeling under a severe power crisis. A 17 to 19-hour daily power cut has hit, besides the common man, industries which have been ordered to remain shut during night hours.
The present power crisis in Ghaziabad is 'extremely grave', an official in the Uttar Pradesh Power Corporation Ltd. (UPPCL) said.
'The industries have been asked to stop their productions during night. We have received many complaints from industrialists but we are helpless as power supply is scanty,' the official said.
Sources in the UPPCL said some power generation units in the state were not functioning and a few units of Anpara power station have also been shut down aggravating the crisis.
The increase in the power demand during the summer time has compelled some neighbouring states to halt power supply to Uttar Pradesh.
Ghaziabad has presently a demand of about 575 MW of electricity.
'The current crisis is due to less generation of power in the state,' said S.N. Yadav, superintending engineer of UPPCL-Ghaziabad.
Consumers alleged that un-scheduled power cuts are adding to their hardships.
The electricity remains off 'even after the scheduled 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. power cut', said Ram Autar Chharia, a casting unit owner at Bulandshahr Road Industrial Area.
'Unscheduled power cuts are hitting our production badly. We cannot even ascertain our losses,' he said.
Agitated consumers in various residential colonies took to the streets Wednesday and staged protest demonstrations halting traffic in the city.
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