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.”

He added: “The power sector in Punjab in general and Mohali in particular has been neglected. Neither the government nor PSEB has worked on any solution to overcome the power shortage. It seems the authorities have compromised with the prevailing situation and are now sitting complacent.”

MIA General Secretary K S Mahal said: “With the global economic slowdown, the industries are already finding it difficult to run their businesses and their worries are extended further due to non-availability of power.”

“Mohali district is gearing up with new shopping malls and five star hotels but these projects may never take off for want of power,” rued MIA leaders, demanding immediate action to help resuscitate the state’s industry. 

Adding to the public woes is the ban on lighting streetlights during night. “Complete blackouts at night, coupled with the dark streets, are encouraging anti-social elements and criminals are having a free run,” said lawyer Tara Chand Gupta, adding that normal life has been thrown out of gear in the present situation.

PSEB officials, meanwhile, expressed helplessness claiming the gap between demand and availability of power is increasing by the day.