The mercury has reached its peak in Uttarakhand and life is affected due to the scorching heat. Also, common people are suffering due to unannounced power cuts. Along with rural areas, there is a lack of electricity in various areas of the city also. At some places the lights are going off several times a day. Due to the heat, the demand for electricity has reached record levels and due to increase in load, faults are also occurring at many places. In the last 15 days this month, the demand for electricity has increased by 10 million units. Whereas, due to availability not being commensurate with demand, cuts are being made.
Challenges likely to increase in the coming days
Efforts are being made by the Energy Corporation to purchase electricity from the market and supply it, but the challenge is likely to increase in the coming days. For the first time this year, the daily electricity demand in Uttarakhand has crossed 54 million units. The reason for which is rising mercury. Due to the scorching heat, electricity consumption has increased due to increased use of fans, coolers and ACs. Despite getting additional power from the Centre, the availability is not relative to the demand. In such a situation, cuts are being made in rural and small towns. Where 15 days ago the electricity demand was around 44 million units, it has now reached 54 million units. Uttarakhand is getting about eight MU additional electricity from the central government. Despite this the availability is not enough.
Common people upset due to power cut in Doon too
Cuts were being made in rural areas for some time. However, now undeclared cuts are being made in various areas of Doon. There is interruption of electricity throughout the day. Also, in many areas there is power failure for one to two hours. The reason for this is being said to be fault. Due to increasing demand and low availability, curtailments have increased in rural and small towns. In Haridwar-Roorkee, there is power cut of one to one and a half hours in small towns like Mangalore, Laksar, Jwalapur, Bhagwanpur etc. and the surrounding rural areas. There is a reduction of one to one and a half hours in Kotdwar and Udham Singh Nagar and four to five hours in the steel furnaces of the state.
Demand and availability of electricity
From hydro power, 15 mu
Other sources, 10 MU
Center received fraction, 17 MU
Purchase from market, 10 MU