Power cuts leave state in misery

state powerless even as officials debate solutions

Mysoreans face hours of power cuts every day. It is the power cuts in the evening that hits people the most. This, despite repeated promises from the energy minister.

Former Energy Minister K S Eshwarappa had promised several times an end to power cuts in the evenings to help students preparing for examinations. Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa is holding out promises too after Eshwarappa became state BJP President.

But, for Mysoreans, there’s been no respite, leaving them worried of their fate in the summer, which is nearly on them. The city get power for 6-8 hours a day. In fact, it has been extended with power cuts in the night between 1 am and 3 am.

The Electricty Act 2003 requires stakeholders to be informed through a public notification the duration of load-shedding in advance. But, the authorities follow it in it’s breach.

Consumer bodies wrote to the Karnataka Electricity Regulatory Commission in October-November on the failure of the Chamundeswari Electricity Supply Company to comply with provisions of the Act. The KERC wrote back, their complaint has been forwarded. That was three months ago to the CESC for a report, and resorting to unscheduled power cuts for long, indefinite periods, adversely affecting businesses and work. The matter stands there for the last three months while the agony of power consumers is continuing, indefinitely.

Even general holidays are not spared. Power shutdowns were resorted on Sankranthi, Shivaratri and other days, including Sundays. Women and children had to distribute ‘yellu’ to their neighbours in the darkness, as power cut was effected for about two hours on a rotation basis. Devotees had to wait in darkness in temples on Shivaratri night. There seems to be no end to this agony, remarks housewife Indiramma.