Power cuts hamper studies in Balasore

BALASORE: Promises are made to be broken, that seems to be norm here. This is exactly the scenario in Balasore district. Prior to the polls, the Energy Minister had declared there will be no power cut during the exam season. Strangely, power cuts resumed a day after the panchayat polls.With all the board examinations, including Plus-II, CBSE, ICSE and HSC, underway, the examinees resent the power cuts throughout day.  Sources said Nesco has initiated power cuts for at least three hours in urban areas in two phases and over four hours in rural areas for the past over six months. Prior to this, the region had been facing power cuts for at least 90 minutes every day when no load restriction imposed on other distribution companies operating in the State.  The consumers alleged that while Bhubaneswar is spared of the disruption, it is peripheral districts which are bearing the brunt on the pretext of load restriction imposed by State Load Despatch Centre. A Nesco official pleaded helplessness. He had earlier stated that there would be no power cut in the evening hours till the examinations are over and the morning  power cut would continue as usual as per the government’s decision. “We can’t do anything. A day after the polls we were supplied at least 30 per cent less power than the daily requirement. We were forced to impose the restrictions,” he maintained. Both industrial houses and domestic users are wary of this practice. The locals have threatened to take to streets if normal power supply is not restored immediately. They also have warned to besiege the electricity office in protest against the high-handedness of the officials concerned.   A social activist, Dilip Kumar Parida, said the State Government purchased power from the Central grid and managed to adjust the shortfall only to escape from the wrath of the public during elections. “Though they stopped power cut in the name of examination, they didn’t pay any heed after the ruling party came out with flying colours in the panchayat elections,” he pointed out.