Electricity deficit. Who’s fault is it? Is it only of Electricity Authority of Indian or we are also somewhere responsible for that? Electricity Authority is not the only one to blame, as a responsible citizen how well do we handle the responsibilities???
Recently I had been into a bank at my place. I was talking with the manager of the bank. The clock rang for three times and power went off. But thanks to generator backup, the systems were running fine. I my city the electricity load shedding is for 6 hours in 2 stretches of 3 hrs each. After the power went off, the question in front of the manager was to keep the systems running till the time power returns. So he ordered the peon to come in the cabin and asked him to shut down all the systems that were running, all the computers and ACs infront of which nobody is sitting. When I entered the office at 2 o’clock there were only 2 executives sitting infront of computers and the rest of the computers were running futile. Imagine the amount of electricity that had been wasted in that particular hour. Imagine how much units were invested in vain. This is the story of every private as well as government office, almost every. Who’s responsible for the load shedding and electricity deficit then??? Only Electricity Board???
Central Electricity Authority (CEA) has written in their latest report that power deficit is shrinking. The demand is up by only 3.5% and the capacity is up by 6.7%. This may be because of the load shedding we are going through. Because of the forced load shedding, we are left with no option and chance to run the power consuming appliances like heaters, ACs, geysers etc. Because of this load shedding we are using the resources more carefully than earlier.
But even if the power deficit is shrinking, it can not be assumed that if power deficit turns into surplus people won’t use those power sucking appliances again. The general mentality of the masses is, if its available then why not use it. But thanks to this sole reason because of which we are running into troubled waters. Once the deficit turns into surplus, the old game will start again. It’s just like an electric bell. Till the button is pressed, the hammer stays in contact with the bell. But once the button is left the hammer dislodges itself from the hammer and returns to its original position.
As I have said earlier, load shedding is for 6 hours in my city. One day power went off at 12 o’clock to come back at the stroke of 3 pm. But clock advanced to 4, 5 o’clock. But there were no signs of power returning. I directly approached the sub-station through which we get the electricity, and asked the reason for the delay. He explained me the actual problems they go through. He told me there has been a theft from the DP from where we get the electricity. Some street thieves stole the copper wires from the fuses. Adding to this reason he explained me how we people are responsible for the problems. He told me people generally don’t switch off the buttons after the power has gone. So naturally the surge comes on the fuses and they dislodge resulting in power cut.
This reminded me of my neighbours who keep the switches open even after the power is gone. And when the power comes back I can hear the sound of water motor immediately. What is this? We are educated people and this is expected from us. Is this a good practice? Who is responsible for the power cuts and power deficit then???
I remember the days when our houses were equipped with the normal fuses which were not posing any resistance to the power surge. Those days if somebody keeps the switch on consider the appliance is gone when the power comes. So people were alert those days, and used to switch the buttons off after the power cut. But the new system of “Trip switches” has worked in favour of the bad habits people follow. But using the trip system doesn’t mean that one should keep the appliances ON forever.
Though I admit that Govt. of India and Electricity Authority should think of some other power generation methods and ways, like “Unconventional Methods”, I emphasise more on people to become more responsible.
“If you don’t think about the future, future will not think about you.”
Prasad B. Kulkarni
Aurangabad.
The World Through My Eyes... 