Uttarakhand power crisis has now reached even the big cities of the state. There was power cut for hours in a large part of the state. Four million units of electricity is falling short even for Friday. In such a situation, the rural and urban population, including industries, will have to deal with the power crisis. In the state, the claim of giving relief to the industries from the power crisis was made by the Energy Corporation of UPCL.

However, there was a power cut of up to six hours in furnace industries associated with steel companies. There was separate power cut in morning and night. There was also a three-hour cut in rural areas. There was power cut for two hours in small cities, and up to one hour in big cities. Dehradun remained untouched in this. 

The power demand in the state as on Friday is 44.5 MU. In comparison, the availability is only 29.5 MU. 15 MU power is being arranged from the market. There is still a shortage of four mu power. On Friday also, the effect of power cut is slowly starting to affect the drinking water supply system as well. This problem can get worse when the power cut increases. 

The crisis increased due to non-availability of electricity from the gas plant,
in the month of April, there has never been such a power crisis in Uttarakhand. The state never bought more than the maximum five MU power from the market. This time up to 15 MU electricity has to be bought from the market. Such a crisis has happened this time due to the supply stagnation from the gas plant and the demand increasing to four MU.

Till last years, the state used to get up to 7.5 MU of electricity from gas plants in this season. Which is zero this time. The demand for electricity was also around 38 MU at this time. This time the same demand has reached 44.5 MU. In normal times, this demand of electricity used to reach till the first week of June. By that time the production of UJVNL also used to reach 24 MU. Which is limited to 13.5 MU. The state is neither getting electricity from the state gas plants nor from the gas plants outside. 

Demand to provide cheap electricity from the Center
Secretary Energy R Meenakshi Sundaram held a meeting with the officers on Thursday morning to deal with the power crisis. It was decided in the meeting that demand would be made from the Center to provide electricity at concessional rates. A letter will be sent to the central government for this. There will be a demand to provide cheap electricity or cheap gas from gas based plants. At present, the rates of electricity from gas based power plants in the market are up to Rs 21 per unit. Secretary Energy instructed the officers to focus on all the alternative arrangements.

Congress’s attack on the government On
the power crisis and forest fire in the state, Congress put the government in the dock. Congress State President Karan Mahra, Leader of Opposition Yashpal Arya and senior leader Pritam Singh raised questions on the government. Said that the people, students and industries of the state are suffering due to power cuts and the government is sitting blindfolded. The government is not concerned with the plight of the people.

Harish will fast for one hour today
Former CM Harish Rawat will fast for one hour on Friday on the issue of electricity. Former CM Harish Rawat said that till one time Uttarakhand was power cut-free and the cheapest state to provide electricity. Now both these features are disappearing. On Friday, a one-hour silent fast will be observed at the Mussoorie Road residence. At the same time, MLA Pratapnagar Vikram Negi met MD UPCL and expressed displeasure over the power crisis.