Ggn's power infrastructure on the brink of collapse

Gurugram: After a huge amount of dealy, the work on Smart Grid project has finally started, officials claimed. Once the project is complete, it will ensure that Gurugram receives 24 hours of power supply.

While the Millennium City may be power-surplus in the future, the city has once again gone powerless with the onset of summer.

Unable to meet the heavy load of power consumption, the power infrastructure in the city has collapsed. Most of the areas are facing power outages for three to six hours. During the recent thunderstorms, most areas were without electricity for more than 12 hours. Most residents have got used to inverters, diesel generators or worse candlelights. Failure of the state-run electricity department has again resulted in disappointment and anger expressed by the people.

Areas that were adversely affected included Sushant Lok, South-City, DLF Phase-3, Palam Vihar and sectors of New Gurugram. Most angry residents took to social media to vent their ire. What is the use of boasting about a power-surplus Haryana when large parts of its most progressive city are still running on generators was one of the angry reactions on social media.

Even as the electricity board officials claimed that all the burnt cables have been rectified, residents do not seems to be satisfied and expressed their concerns over the preparation of the electricity department for the impending monsoon. "Whether it is summer or monsoon, there is a power crisis in the city. Even though we pay a high rate of Rs 8 per unit, we still have to face the power crisis every year. Imagine the plight of residents who have to pay a high amount for their power bill as well as for generator bills," said Arti Singh, a city resident.

At a time when the temperature in the city is in the range of 45 degrees, it is not only the frequent power-cuts but also the low voltage supply that is making the citizens of Gurugram angry. With the transformers of the city electricity board unable to bear heavy electricity load, most areas in the city are receiving a voltage supply of around 150-180 volts.

Officials of the city electricity board said that heavy electricity load is resulting in the blasting of power cables.