IT hub on standby: Bangalore reels under power crisis

CITY IN DARKNESS: Karnataka Govt announces cutting down city's power supply by 20 per cent.

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Bangalore: India’s IT hub and world’s back office is headed towards a power crisis. The Karnataka Government has announced that it will cut down the city’s power supply by 20 per cent, which roughly translates into over four hours of unscheduled power cuts.

However, that’s not all. In case the rain situation does not improve, Bangalore could face power cuts lasting over six hours.

"There are unscheduled power cuts throughout the day. We are asking them to perform scheduled load shedding so that the farmers and industries can plan in advance,” said Karnataka Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge.

The long power shutdowns have forced a diesel shortage as well. The average demand for diesel in the city is 1,800 kilolitres a day. But in last week alone, it has gone up by 40 per cent.

Industries continue to be bulk users of diesel as they are heavily dependent on diesel-run generators. But with load shedding on, industries and corporate offices are trying to stretch supplies.

“They better arrange some diesel for our industry. It has to be done. We can’t run with limited power resources," Chairman, Mindtree Consulting, Ashok Soota said.

Oil marketing companies are trying to quell fears of a long-term shortage but sources say companies won’t be able to sustain the subsidy of more than Rs 20 on diesel.