Some time back the Government had declared Noida a no power cut zone, meaning that there will not be any power cuts due to scheduled load shedding. Although even after the declaration, power cuts were still not uncommon. But now the UPSLDC (UP State Load Despatch Centre) has officially declared a load shedding of two and a half hours daily, split between morning and afternoon hours.
Along with power cuts comes another problem of voltage fluctuations, which the electricity department has never been able to solve and like every year residents’ appliances face severe damage. Apart from the scheduled power cuts, unscheduled power cuts are also rampant. The residents also allege that the department does not take their complaints seriously. Whenever the residents call to inquire about the power cut they are given a standard answer that “fault has occurred, power will be restored soon”. But the power does not come in the stipulated time frame. Also the intermittent rains and storms that keep occurring add to this already boiling issue. The sector saw short circuits and snapped power lines at many places due to broken tree branches falling on them. Power cuts have become a daily routine now and residents are helpless about the whole situation. They say that they cannot plan their day as power cuts occur at any moment. Construction activities, online classes, household chores, everything comes to s standstill without power. The Electricity department is to be blamed for this as they hardly show any willingness for preventive maintenance. The electric equipment like cables, poles, transformers, boxes etc are in pitiful condition,due to which power tripping has become a regular affair in the sector. The residents have even tried to reach out to the Chief Ministers office to find a solution to their grievances as the officers in charge seem to turn a blind eye to the whole problem. Residents also say that while the department may be slow to resolve complaints, it seems to be very fast in disconnecting connections for a few days delay in payment of bills that are already burning a hole in the residents’ pockets.
What is ironic is that while we pay one of the highest rates of electricity in the country, the quality of services we receive is lamentable. The residents say that the whole department right from the staff to the equipment needs an overhaul to bring things back on track.
