Ludhiana faces escalating power shortage as PSPCL employees prolong their work stoppage
Power Crisis in Ludhiana Worsens as Substations Remain Vulnerable During PSPCL Employees' Strike
A prolonged mass leave strike by PSPCL employees has caused a significant disruption in the power supply of Ludhiana and surrounding areas, with substations becoming particularly vulnerable due to a lack of technical staff.
The strike, led by the PSEB Employees Joint Forum and allied unions, has seen about 57% of employees (out of a total of 1,356) being off duty, leaving many substations and divisional offices abandoned and without skilled personnel. This lack of technical staff severely impacts power supply restoration, as non-technical and clerical staff, who have been redeployed to manage substations, lack the expertise to handle technical faults such as issues with circuits, fuses, or transmission lines.
As a result, when faults or glitches occur, it becomes difficult to quickly identify and fix problems, leading to prolonged outages, voltage fluctuations, and delays in restoring power supply to affected areas. The union has threatened an indefinite strike from August 15 if their demands remain unmet.
The power crisis has been further exacerbated in rural areas, where a steady electricity supply is crucial for irrigation during the paddy season. Villagers in Rasulpur, Jagraon, have stormed a 66 KV substation over repeated power cuts and demanded an immediate end to the strike.
Union leaders have accused the Punjab Government and Power Minister of failing to issue a promised circular for 25 demands accepted on June 2. The absence of clerical staff has halted basic office work, including bill payments, meter corrections, and new meter installations. Prolonged blackouts are still occurring in several localities, including Harkrishan Nagar, Preet Nagar, Shimlapuri, Lohara, and Sukhdev Nagar.
In an attempt to maintain the power supply across Ludhiana, PSPCL chief engineer Jagdev Hans has stated that they will ensure the power supply keeps running with whatever staff they have. However, the union has warned that on August 15, employees will greet officials at flag-hoisting ceremonies with black flags from nearby power offices and have announced they will join sit-ins and demonstrations on August 15. They have also threatened an indefinite strike from August 15 if their demands remain unmet.
[1] Source: Union Representatives and PSPCL Chief Engineer Jagdev Hans.
The government and politics of Punjab are under pressure due to the ongoing strike by PSPCL employees, as the disruption in power supply has reached critical levels in Ludhiana and its surrounding areas. The policy-and-legislation department is yet to address the union's demands, including the promised circular for 25 accepted demands, which have halted various administrative tasks, such as bill payments and new meter installations. Furthermore, the impact of the strike extends beyond urban areas, with rural communities facing water shortages during the paddy season due to insufficient electricity supply for irrigation. The general news of the prolonged power crisis has cast a shadow over cricket matches scheduled in Ludhiana, as potential power outages pose a significant risk to the smooth conduct of the games.
