Power supply reduced by half in rural UP after election results

Power supply reduced by half in rural UP after election results

LUCKNOW: The Uttar Pradesh power consumers it seems are paying the price for ignoring candidates of the ruling SP and voting for the BJP. The TOI had reported earlier how power supply to rural areas was reduced the very next day the Lok Sabha results were announced on May 16.

UP Power Corporation Ltd had been supplying 16 hours electricity daily to rural areas since January following directions of chief minister Akhilesh Yadav who holds the power portfolio in the state cabinet. Higher supply was ensured despite rise in demand even as the corporation resorted to buying of power from the energy exchange. But after the election results, power supply was reduced by half in most rural areas.

The BJP has come out with a statewide power availability chart which they claim had been given to them by the department officials. According to it electricity being produced in the state stood at 151.90 metric unit (mu) on May 7, central power production stood at 116.77 mu and purchase from outside stood at 21.66 mu. But it came down drastically in all these category to 133 mu, 99 mu and 21 mu on May 17.

BJP workers have been staging demonstrations at all district headquarters for the past few days. On Thursday led by state BJP chief Laxmikant Bajpayi, they staged protest in front of Shakti Bhawan which houses offices of the senior officials related to Electricity department. BJP workers led by Mohanlalganj MP Kaushal Kishore also staged a dharna in front of the SDM office. Similarly protest against worsening power scenario were also staged at various district headquarters from UP. The protestors then handed over a memorandum to the officials concerned.

The party threatened to stage a statewide protest on May 28, 29 and 30, said Bajpayi who questioned how constituencies from where SP candidates won were receiving 24 hours electricity while others were suffering without power in the sweltering summer heat.

BJP has decided to continue demonstrating against poor power supply even after May 31 if the situation doesn't improve.