Power demand shoots up in rain-bereft Punjab
Jangveer Singh
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, August 14
Most parts of Punjab and Haryana missed the rain that was forecast today even as the power demand in Punjab shot up to a record 2,100 lakh units resulting in a further increase in power cuts. The catchments of the Bhakra and Pong dams also received scanty rain.

Rain today was limited to Chandigarh and its adjoining areas in Punjab, Haryana and Himachal Pradesh. The weather office had earlier forecast widespread rain in the region today.

Punjab is reeling under a power crisis with all three areas of Majha, Malwa and Doaba continuing to be dry. Power demand has gone up to a record 2,100-lakh units today, the highest in the history of the state. The demand had crossed the 2,000 LU mark two days back. According to the PSEB sources, it could supply only 1,600 LUs of power, resulting in power cuts of eight to 12 hours across the state.

Board sources said increase in the number of air-conditioners in cities and towns was also causing frequent breakdowns. They said the initiative to reduce the load of air-conditioners in offices had also not borne fruit. The board has, meanwhile, again requested that streetlights be switched off after 10 pm to save power.

Meanwhile, BBMB officials said there was little rainfall in the catchment areas of both Bhakra and Pong dams. The inflows of 40,000 cusecs and 20,000 cusecs, respectively, for both dams are equivalent to those received during the dry period due to snow-melt. The level of the Bhakra dam is still a cause of worry. The dam is at 1,595 ft today as compared to a level of 1,662 ft on this date last year.

The Meteorological office here has, however, forecast that widespread rain is likely to occur in Punjab, Haryana and Haryana tomorrow. Chandigarh Metrological Centre Director Chattar Singh Malik said Himachal and its neighbouring areas in Punjab and Haryana might witness heavy rain tomorrow. The meteorological office has also claimed that the monsoon could get prolonged in the northern region and be extended till September with moderate rain expected till August 23.

According to figures available, there has been 35 per cent deficiency in rainfall between June 1 and August 12 in Punjab and 66 per cent deficiency during the same period in Haryana. In June, Punjab and Haryana received 5 mm and 6 mm of rainfall only. An average deficiency between 26 to 50 per cent for the whole season is sufficient to declare a state drought-hit. Though rainfall did pick up in July in both Punjab and Haryana, it was not evenly spread due to which it did not have the required beneficial effect on the paddy crop.