Posted by After the heat which started from March, severe heat continues in the month of April in a large part of the country. Due to the scorching heat, the demand for electricity in villages and cities has reached an all-time high.
New Delhi, PTI. Due to scorching heat and acute shortage of coal, power cuts have started in many parts of the country. Record demand for power in many states and shortage of coal in power plants is causing problems to the common people. From Jammu and Kashmir to Andhra Pradesh, consumers are being cut for 2 hours to 8 hours. Factories are most affected by power cuts.
After the heat which started from March, severe heat continues in the month of April in a large part of the country. Due to the scorching heat, the demand for electricity in villages and cities has reached an all-time high. The total power shortfall in the country has reached 623 million units, surpassing the total power shortage in March.
The shortage of coal is the biggest role in the power crisis happening in most of the states of the country. Fossil fuel (coal) which produces 70 percent of India’s electricity. While the government is insisting that there is enough coal available to meet the demand. At the same time, the government believes that coal imports have declined after the war in Ukraine, along with rising international energy prices. Apart from measures to augment coal supply to power plants, the central government has asked states to increase coal imports for the next three years to build inventory.
Uttar Pradesh, the most populous state, has a deficit of 3,000 MW
At the same time, All India Power Engineers Federation (AIPEF) said that thermal plants across the country are facing coal shortage, which is a sign of power crisis in the country. Uttar Pradesh, India’s most populous state, has a deficit of 3,000 MW. The supply is just 20,000 MW against the demand of about 23,000 MW, resulting in load shedding in rural areas and small towns.
On an average, 19 hours of supply is being done in the cities of UP against the stipulated 21 hours
According to the data provided by the State Electricity Department, electricity is being supplied in rural areas on an average of 15 hours 7 minutes as against the 18 hours stipulated at present. Similarly, electricity is being supplied at an average of 19 hours 50 minutes against the stipulated 21 hours 30 minutes in cities and 21 hours 30 minutes in tehsil headquarters. However, 24 hours electricity is being provided at the district headquarters.
Akhilesh Yadav targets UP government over power cut
Meanwhile, Samajwadi Party President Akhilesh Yadav has hit out at the BJP government in Uttar Pradesh for failing to provide enough electricity. Akhilesh said that the government claims to provide 18 to 20 hours of electricity in rural areas, whereas electricity is being provided only for 4 hours and in many places there is power failure throughout the night.
Heavy power cuts are happening in Kashmir Valley too
Meanwhile, the Kashmir Valley is facing one of its worst power woes as unscheduled and prolonged supply cuts in the holy month of Ramzan have left people reeling. Power department officials said the supply in April was around 900 to 1,100 MW while the demand was 1,600 MW.
Small factories in Tamil Nadu stopped work due to power cut
Unscheduled power cuts in the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu have thrown industries into trouble. Match factories, especially in cities like Virudhunagar, Tenkasi and Tuticorin, have remained closed. Last week, the state government said there was power cut in some parts of the state due to a shortage of 750 MW from the central grid.