BESCOM, don’t torture us

BESCOM, don’t torture us

Random power cuts are testing the patience of students and parents in Bangalore. They are asking why can’t BESCOM inform when they are pulling the plug

GAYATRI NAIR


“Please don’t torture us with frequent power-cuts when we are preparing for our final exams.” This was the earnest plea to Bescom officials and Power Minister K S Eshwarappa from students protesting against outages in Fraser Town on Wednesday.
With Bescom cutting power at random, frustration is mounting among Bangaloreans, especially students. It was quite evident when over 100 students of Shobana Memorial High School in Bharathinagar stomped the streets demanding the authorities to specify the timings of power cuts. Their main grievance was that the erratic load shedding was robbing the children off their study hours. The protest also had the participation of 100 odd children from Shobana Memorial High School, in Wheeler’s Road.
“Our exams are going to start from March 19, we need to study and revise but the power goes twice a day sometimes even thrice,” said Rohit Singh, seventh standard student from Shobana school. Sandeep Rao another student complained, “Power goes off at crucial times... from seven in the morning till eight. And then again in the evening it goes from 8 pm to 9pm. We can’t revise in the mornings or before sleeping.”
Nicole Constance, another student from the same school said, “In the mornings when the power goes, we can’t iron our clothes or take bath in hot water. Sometimes even my breakfast is delayed.” But it’s not only the students who are inconvenienced. Power cuts also have the parents fuming. “We understand that students will not be studying constantly. But in the evenings around 8 pm is the time they have dinner and it is a nuisance with the lights going off when you need them the most,” said Narayan Swamy, whose son studies in St Aloysius school in Cox Town. He adds, “It is a recurring problem. Why can’t the government do something about it?”
N S Ravi, president of Bharatinagar Residents Welfare Association, who organised the demonstration, said: “We understand that there is (power) shortage. All we are asking them is not to cut power in the mornings and in the evenings. If they want to cut power let them do it from 1 pm to 3 pm.”
POWER CRISIS? YOU ARE TO BLAME!
When it comes to power crisis in the city, the government is usually at the receiving end. But a recent survey, conducted by the city-based Biodiversity Conservation India Ltd (BCIL), looks beyond and has found that the enlightened citizenry is no better.
The survey on a sample size of 400 people revealed that a whopping 95 per cent were aware of energy conservation methods, but were reluctant to implement them. Here is a sampling of the surprise findings of the survey:

• 40 per cent of the respondents admitted that they
wouldn’t do anything if they found street lights
burning during daytime as it was government’s job to do so.

• Over 50 per cent do not use CFL bulbs even though they know that these can save energy.

• About 25 per cent use CFLs but not effectively.

• 50 per cent of them feel that electric heaters and microwaves are cheaper than LPG cylinders.

• 60 per cent of them cannot live without power even for a day in the city.

• 170 out of 400 respondents have their televisions switched on even when no one is watching it.

• Only one per cent use solar powered gadgets.

• Over 23 per cent use electric irons on a daily basis.


Students protesting against erratic power cuts in Fraser Town on Wednesday