With Punjab State Electricity Board (PSEB) issuing orders on Saturday to increase the weekly powercut to industries in the state from the present 36 hours to 60 hours, the power situation is at an all-time low.  

From now on, the power supply to industries in the state, which is suspended at 8 pm every Friday, will resume at 8 am on Monday instead of 8 am on Sunday every week. With this, the industries will be rendered without power for two days and three nights.

The urban areas, on the other hand, go without power for over 12 hours daily against the scheduled cut of 4 hours. Also, contrary to the assurance of PSEB to ensure uninterrupted power supply to domestic consumers in urban areas during the night, powercuts and voltage fluctuations play truant, not even providing relief at night.

The peak summer season, with the mercury hovering around 40 degrees Celsius, is adding to the misery of residents. 

Strongly opposing the move, Mohali Industries Association (MIA) has urged the state government to withdraw the increase in powercuts and ensure 24-hour uninterrupted power supply to industries so that the industrial units can operate round-the-clock to compete with the industries of neighbouring states.

The decision will prove to be a death knell for the state’s industry, which is already on the verge of collapse, said MIA members.  

MIA president B S Anand said: “Power supply to industries in Mohali has been the worst hit and has brought the industries to the verge of closure. The industry has been subjected to acute power scarcity. Such helplessness has never been witnessed with no solution in sight.”

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