Dehradun, April 16
The power surplus dream is getting even more distant as Uttarakhand seems to have faltered on the power front in its formative years.

Uttarakhand is experiencing a tough time as the yawning gap between supply and demand is set to catapult into a major crisis this summer. The state now is desperately looking to other states to resolve the crisis.

It is particularly tough for the incumbent BJP government to explain away the power blues with almost all parties contesting the general election launching a scathing attack on the matter.

Uttarakhand generates 7 million units of power per day while the demand is as high as 22 to 23 million units per day.

The state gets 4 to 5 million units as central share while another 1 to 1.5 million units is somehow managed through borrowing.

But that still leaves the state with a shortage of 4 to 5 million units per day, forcing it to overdraw power from the Northern Grid.

Sources say the state is ready to pay any price for purchasing power but is finding it difficult to find a state that is willing to sell taking into account the rise in demand in all states.

The states of Gujarat, Chhatisgarh and Delhi were approached by Uttarakhand
Power Corporation Limited but the three have declined to come to the state’s
rescue owing to their own concerns.

The corporation has been overdrawing from the Northern Grid, a reflection on the dismal power scenario.

Due to overdraw, the state is losing an amount of Rs 2 crore daily towards power cost and it has already overdrawn power worth Rs 30 crore in the month of April.

To make matters worse, the Northern Grid has expressed strong reservations over the corporation overdrawing power, which has further compounded the problem.

As of now, rotational power cuts seems the only way out. While residents are left to face power cuts in the scorching heat, disruption of potable water supply due to power failure makes things even more difficult. The state is now resorting to rotational cuts for a maximum of two hours per day.

The capital city of Dehradun is also facing the heat this year. It was once
declared a power-cut free zone. These cuts that initially started for 90 minutes
per day may be increased.

Uttarakhand Power Corporation’s Jagmohan Lal is hopeful of improvement in the power scenario in days to come. He says power generation has been affected by the fall in the water level of rivers.

Most of the potable water supply in Dehradun is done through tubewells, which depend on power supply for their operations. Power cuts and fluctuation in voltage have had a telling impact on the water supply.

In the recent days, power cuts have resulted in scores of localities in Dehradun, including Banjarawala, Mothorwala, Aracadia, Chandrabadni, Badirpur and Nathanpur, facing water crisis.

According to Jal Santhan’s VK Sinha, any disruption in power proves detrimental to the water supply.

With pressure on pumping stations of water works caused by low voltage, the GM says the department is now making arrangements for additional motors. Meanwhile, there seems no immediate respite in sight.

Roorkee, April 16
Power cuts in the city has spelt misery for its residents. A seven-hour power cut daily has become a routine affair.

The power goes off between 9.30 am and 10 am and is restored after 3 pm. It
remains suspended in the evening for half an hour and then for at least three
hours past midnight.

Needless to say, the water supply of the city has also been affected with the taps running dry for the whole day except the mornings.

“It is very difficult to manage with such short supply of water... Life is becoming unbearable,” said an exasperated Sunita Aggarwal, a housewife.

Routine work at government offices and private institutions has also been affected due to the long power cuts.

“Actual work in offices starts only when power is resumed after 3 pm as in most offices, banks and other institutions, the work is largely done on computers. But these can’t be operated without power,” said Hemant Kumar, a government employee. Officials of Uttaranchal Power Corporation have little ing to say.

“We cannot comment for how long this situation will persist. We are not getting the required supply from the main grid,” said a corporation officer, pleading anonymity.

Farmers too are a harried lot. “This is sowing season, which requires uninterrupted water supply for irrigation purposes.

The authorities should take measures immediately otherwise the farmers will be left with no option but to launch an agitation," warned Sanjay Chaudhary, a Bharatiya Kisan Union leader.

“In rural areas, the assistance package for the mother is Rs 700 while for ASHA, it is Rs 600. In urban areas, the assistance package for the mother is Rs 600, while for ASHA, it is Rs 200,” said Dr Lata Bisht, district women’s hospital.

However, the benefits under the scheme will be linked to availing of ante-natal check-up by the pregnant woman.

Dehradun, April 16
As many as 75 visually challenged persons attached with the National Institute for Visually Handicapped (NIVH) participated in the first responder training’ organised by Emergency Management and Research Institute (EMRI), here today.

The participants were trained in basic life support techniques, cardio-pulmonary resuscitation, artificial breathing techniques and management of emergencies.

“Two groups of visually challenged persons were selected for training. Through
live models and mannequins they were familiarised on how to handle patients who
suffer from fits or experience choking before emergency ambulance services are
called in,” said Dr Sami Al Sufi, part of the Hyderabad-based Emergency Medicine
Learning and Care team.

As visually challenged persons have a high degree of tactile sensation, special ergonomically designed mannequins were used for demonstration.

“Certain steps taken promptly can help save lives. When an epilepsy patient begins frothing, placing him and or her in the left lateral position can help save the patients’ life. In case of seizures, lifting the legs of the patient can help boost the supply of blood to the brain,” said Dr Vijay Mittal, EMRI, Uttarakhand.

The EMRI started the first responder programmes by training over 500 NCC cadets in Gopeshwar and Chamoli. As many as 140 policemen were trained in Champawat, Tanakpur and Lohaghat.

Dehradun, April 16
As many as 113 direct recruits for the post of sub-inspectors and 222 ranker sub-inspectors yesterday passed out from the Police Training College, Muradabad.

During the passing-out parade, Uttarakhand DGP Subhash Joshi exhorted the passing-out sub-inspectors to work with commitment and honesty.

“It is matter of pleasure that the batch of 335 sub-inspectors has successfully completed their course. I am hopeful that these SIs will perform their duties diligently,” said the DGP.

He added that the post of SI is a very important post as SIs had to directly deal with the masses. Sub-inspectors play an important role in implementation of the law.

“I am sure that after gruelling sessions of physical and mental training, the pass-outs will be competent enough to perform their duties in a extremely effective manner,” the DGP said.