Coping with load shedding

Coping with load shedding
DH News Service, Bangalore:
If you plan to take a stroll in the evening, hoping for fresh air, then the BESCOM has other plans for you...


The fresh air has been replaced by diesel and kerosene fumes peppering every footstep, thanks to the load shedding that has come into place. This is, despite all political assurances to the contrary.

Generators are put to maximum use at every shop, as shopkeepers calculate how much would it cost to maintain them.

A shopkeeper on Church Street said, since the number of hours for the shutdown is not specified, they were trying to determine the timings, based on newspaper reports. “A litre of kerosene will last us an hour, and we are not sure when the shutdown is bound to take place. We will just have to wait and see”, a juice shop owner complained.

Some shops are scrambling to order UPS systems, so that they can use their credit card machines, something, which most of the shops cannot do without.

Apartments which come with backup power have also been affected. While most of the apartments provide backup power for common areas like hallways and elevators, those which provide diesel generator-backed power for light electrical units, have started withdrawing these amenities. Increasing costs of diesel and the recurring shortage of diesel supply have added to the woes.

Power shutdowns in the mornings coincides with the school timings. Thus there is an increase in the usage of domestic cylinder, since water for bath is heated on the gas.

Meanwhile, there was small fire in the generator room of the Karnataka Badminton Association on Thursday morning. The fire was noticed and was doused immediately.

KBA Secretary Sudhir said there was a short circuit caused due to an electricity surge. He said they were trying to ascertain if the surge occurred after the load shedding. The KBA has been closed for the day and is expected to be open from Friday.

Protest

The Bangalore City Youth Congress Committee on Thursday staged a protest in front of the KPTCL office protesting against load shedding. President, BCYCC Manohar said the chief minister had given false assurances that there would be no shutdowns, due to good rains and purchase of power from other states.