With many cities in the state facing hours long unscheduled power cuts, the tall claims of the Punjab Power Corporation to provide uninterrupted power supply of all categories of electricity consumers during the summer season have fallen flat. Not only the domestic sector, but also agricultural pumpset (AP) consumers are not getting eight-hour power as assured. Besides, the domestic power supply in villages has been badly affected.In Patiala city, power cuts varying from two to three hours are being imposed. In Ludhiana, yesterday, there was a six-hour long power cut in some residential areas. It is leant that because of some major technicalsnag, the power situation in some areas of Ludhiana district would be adversely affected for a few more days. In Fatehgarh Sahib, the situation id really bad with the Punjab Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL) imposing unscheduled cuts of almost six hours in a day.Apart from domestic power consumers, farmers have also complained that they are not getting eight-hour power supply, as assured by the PSPCL authoritiesbefore start of the paddy season.Satnam Singh Behru, state until president of the Indian Farmers association, said, we were told by the Punjab Power Corporation functionaries that from the over-loaded sub-stations, they would provide six-hour power supply. But, contrary to this, even sub-stations, which are not over-loaded, the PSPCL is not providing even six-hour power supply. The situation is grim and we seek immediate intervention of Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal in this regards.

Both PSPCL director, distribution, Arun Verma and Director, Generation, GS Chhabra were busy in official meetings. Sourced said the state was reeling under power crisis because of less hydro-generation and sudden spurt in power demand after June 10. The frequency of the Northern Grid is low and was recorded 49.5 during afternoon. At this frequency, we can’t even over-draw from the grid, said a senior Punjab Power Corporation officer.