PSEB to snap power to units working at night
Nidhi Singhi, TNN 15 August 2009

LUDHIANA: To tighten the noose around industrialists, violating the directions of the Punjab State Electricity Board (PSEB), by running their
industrial units during night hours during the 3-day weekly off, PSEB officials will cut down connections of units in category 2 feeders.

According to information, the demand for power has now crossed 2,022 lakh units. PSEB officials admit that the power crisis had worsened compared to May and June.

Sources said even though the weekly off for industrial units had been increased and supply was being cut from the feeders during daytime, businessmen continued to run their units.

They said this was not bringing any gains for the department because the margin between demand and supply had increased considerably. Sources said the board had given strict guidelines to officers that connections to those units be cut found violating rules.

Sources said for the first violation, connection would be cut down for a day, for second, it would be cut down for three days and for the third, it would be cut down for a week.

Confirming the decision, HS Randhawa deputy chief engineer PSEB said, "There is a three-day weekly off imposed on industrial units in category 2, but some units are violating the directions. We have received instructions from higher authorities to deal strictly with such units." He said to bring down the margin between the demand and supply, it was necessary that a ban be imposed.