Power shortage hits small units
Tribune News Service

Patiala, July 7
Small-scale industries of Punjab have warned the Punjab government that the present power crisis had crippled small industries in Punjab and this sector was on the verge of collapse. A deputation of the small-scale industries association of Punjab today met Punjab State Electricity Board Chairman H S Brar here and submitted a memorandum listing the problems of the association and suggesting remedies.

The deputation pointed out that the power crisis in Punjab had aggravated the problems of the small industries and if corrective measures were not taken immediately the industrial sector would collapse which would lead to social unrest. The deputation said that electricity was being taken away from the paying sector to the non-paying sector which had resulted in a power crisis for the small industries sector.

It said the state government had admitted that one-third of the total electricity was being wasted in transmission and distribution. Power pilferage was going on unabated all over Punjab. The deputation said that if the Board paid proper attention to check this wastage the problem could be solved to a large extent.

The deputation said that Punjab needed about 1800 lakh units of power per day in July while the availability was about 1500 lakh units. The gap between the demand and supply was just 300 lakh units which worked out to about 20 per cent. If scheduled and unscheduled power cuts and two weekly off days for industry were taken into account, the power cuts which were being imposed now were not commensurate with the gap between power demand and supply. There was need for higher officials of the PSEB and the state government to work on these facts and figures.

The association said that small-scale industries was a priority sector and the thrust area as it contributed to the state exchequer. The PSEB on the directions of the state government was imposing maximum power cuts on this sector. This was contrary to the avowed policies being pursued by the union government.

The deputation alleged that there was rampant corruption at the lower level in the PSEB and the Board must address this problem on a priority basis. The association has suggested that the PSEB should set up district-level power grievances committees and have representatives of the public on these committees for speedy redressal of the problems of different categories of consumers.