: Frequent and unscheduled power cuts, sometimes lasting for nearly 10 hours, have become a norm in Gurgaon as peak power demand reach new heights due to the hot weather.
Peak consumption last year was 247 lakh units on July 26, this year it has crossed 251 lakh units in May itself.
On May 20, the Gurgaon operation circle recorded the consumption of 252 lakh units.
Bad situation
The rise in demand has led to tripping of feeders and transformers due to overloading, resulting in unannounced power cuts.
The situation is particularly bad in licensed colonies like DLF Phase I-V, Sushant Lok, Palam Vihar, Malibu Town and Mayfield Garden.
“The unscheduled power cuts have become routine over the past few days. The power situation in Mayfield Garden has never been good with over 3,000 families not having regular power connections. It has become worse in the past few days,” said Sanjay Kumar, a Mayfield Garden J-Block resident.
Gurgaon Citizens’ Council president and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Haryana spokesperson R.S. Rathee, a resident of DLF Phase-I, said: “Both power and water supply have been hit due to soaring mercury.”
In U-Block of DLF Phase-III, “three transformers were damaged on Saturday and four damaged on Sunday, interrupting the power supply,” said Superintending Engineer, DHBVN, Sanjiv Chopra.
‘Dangerous condition’
Blaming the frequent power cuts on inadequate electrical infrastructure, Sheetal residents’ welfare association president Dharam Vir Yadav said: “The transformers are connected directly to high-tension line without vacuum circuit breakers, and are not being serviced or maintained. The oil in the transformers is below operating level. The feeder boxes are badly corroded with low-tension power cables dangling out with burnt or missing fuses.”
“The power distribution network in many licensed colonies is in a dangerous condition, which may cause an untoward incidence or a fatal mishap,” Mr. Yadav added.
“The developer has to install electrical infrastructure as per Dakshin Haryana Bijli Vitran Nigam (DHBVN) design, drawing and specifications within a period of five years after approval of electrification plan and hand over the system to the Nigam as per DHBVN Sales Circular D-9/2013 dated 8.3.2013. But the system has not yet been taken over by DHBVN and neither the builder nor the Nigam own up o the responsibility of maintenance,” said Mr. Yadav, a retired commander from Indian Air Force.
Besides the licensed colonies, the power situation in industrial areas, HUDA sectors and Old Gurgaon have also deteriorated.
Residents say that the distribution networks in many colonies are in very poor condition
